Engine coolant is key to keeping your vehicle running smoothly. It helps to regulate engine temperature, preventing overheating and potential damage. Choosing the right coolant for your vehicle can make all the difference to its performance. It's also important to replace your coolant at recommended intervals. Contact our experts at Monument Chevrolet in Pasadena, Texas, to learn more about coolant or make a service appointment at our Chevy service center to get yours changed.
The Role of Coolant in a Car
Coolant lubricates moving parts in an internal combustion engine and protects the engine from overheating. When your engine burns fuel to power your Chevrolet Equinox or Silverado truck, it can generate extreme heat. Some of this heat is released through the exhaust, but coolant is required to keep the engine's components safe.
The difference between coolant and antifreeze is that coolant is a mixture of water and antifreeze that helps to regulate engine temperature, while antifreeze is a concentrated glycol-based liquid that can prevent your car engine from freezing up in cold weather. Coolant can be used as antifreeze, as it's capable of protecting your engine's parts against freezing temperatures, but antifreeze shouldn't be used as coolant.
How Do Coolants Work?
Your engine coolant is stored in a reservoir that's connected to the coolant system. The process starts when the water pump transfers the coolant into your engine's block, where it absorbs the excess heat to control the engine's temperature. The coolant is then pumped to the radiator, where the heat it has absorbed is removed. Once coolant reaches a low temperature, it returns to the beginning of the cycle and passes through the engine again. This process will continue while your engine is running so that its components are safeguarded against overheating as well as wear and tear.
In addition to cooling your engine's parts, coolant has properties to reduce friction between engine parts and prevent rust and corrosion. These properties are especially helpful for keeping the radiator, pump, hoses, and other parts in good working condition for years to come. Corrosion and rust can cause major car issues, as particles and debris can block hoses and clog your radiator, which prevent coolant from circulating effectively. The end result could be an overheating engine.
Types of Engine Coolant
There are three common types of engine coolant used in vehicles:
- Inorganic acid technology coolant is traditionally used on older vehicles and is typically green or yellow. It requires changing more frequently than coolants in newer vehicles because its properties wear out more quickly.
- Organic acid technology coolants come in a wider range of colors and are often used in newer vehicles.
- There's also a hybrid organic acid technology variant, which is a combination of the other two coolant types.
It's important to make sure that you use the correct coolant for your vehicle type. Your Chevy owner's manual will specify the best type of coolant to use for your Chevrolet vehicle. Using the wrong coolant may lead to poor vehicle performance and potential engine damage. Sticking to the right coolant and changing it after the recommended mileage can help prevent vehicle problems. Many coolants need to be changed after 50,000 miles of driving, which takes about four years on average.
Diagnosing Low Coolant Levels
Various signs can give you a warning that your coolant levels are low. You may see steam or smoke rising from your engine, or your engine may be overheating. You may also notice coolant leaking from the radiator or coolant system, which may be caused by corrosion or another problem. If you're dealing with a leak, it's important to determine whether you've been using the right coolant. Since using the wrong coolant may have caused interior damage to the radiator, repair might be needed to prevent the reemergence of the same issue.
Can You Mix Different Coolants?
Mixing various coolants isn't a good idea. Each coolant and antifreeze has its own chemical formula to ensure best performance. The formulas make sure that the coolant doesn't freeze when it's cold or overheat while it's cooling the engine.
The danger with mixing coolants is that the chemical mixture you produce could damage your engine. It could also lead to the corrosion of other components. If you're changing to a new coolant, the best approach is to fully drain the old coolant before adding the new one.
Can You Use Water as a Coolant Substitute?
We don't recommend using pure water as a coolant. If absolutely necessary, water can be used as a temporary substitute for coolant, but it's not recommended for long-term use, as pure water can cause rust and corrosion to your engine's components. Coolant is a mixture of water and other substances designed to reduce the risk of rust.
Water can also freeze when it gets cold, which can cause burst hoses and cracked engine blocks. Engines are among the most expensive parts of your car to repair, so you'll want to avoid the risk of potential problems from happening.
Schedule a Service Appointment at Monument Chevrolet
If you're looking for a reliable service center in Pasadena to take care of your coolant maintenance, our team at Monument Chevrolet is here to help. Our Chevy mechanics can handle all coolant changes and part repairs with ease thanks to our cutting-edge technology and excellent know-how. Before you visit our dealership, don't forget to check out our service specials to see if you can save some money during your car service. Should you have any further questions about your engine coolant or you want to arrange a service appointment, feel free to contact us today.
Image by Jason Leung is licensed with Unsplash License
