Guide to using Antifreeze in a Car Radiator
When you live in a place that gets real winters and hot summers,using the right amount and kind of antifreezein the car radiator isn't just about keeping your car running smoothly. It's about keeping your car running at all!
Antifreeze to keep your car engine from freezing up
Chances are you don't think a lot about your car after you've parked it and gone to the mall to Christmas shop. But it's getting cold out there! Just imagine the water in your radiator slowly freezing, expanding, and cracking the radiator and its hoses.
That's where antifreeze comes in. Antifreeze that's mixed with radiator water and kept at the proper level will keep your lines from freezing. That's why it's so important to choose an antifreeze which is rated for the coldest temperatures in your region. It only costs a few dollars to prevent a very costly repair!
Antifreeze as engine coolant
The antifreeze-water mix in your car's radiator's the only thing that's keeping your engine from getting hot enough to catch fire. Keeping your antifreeze-water mix at the right level and screwing the radiator cap on tight is all that stands between a healthy car and an expensive disaster. Don't ever let your radiator get dry!
If you live in a climate where the temperature never goes below freezing, you can use straight water in your radiator. It actually does a better job of getting rid of the heat than antifreeze does. Many race cars do this. Of course, race cars also get their engines cleaned and rebuilt all the time, which is beyond the means of most people.
So that's the other place where antifreeze comes in. It keeps your engine from rusting up.
A lot of people think that antifreeze also keeps your radiator water from boiling. That's sort of true, but it's not the main thing. The pressure in the radiator's the main thing that keeps your radiator water from boiling. That's why it's so important to screw your radiator cap on firmly. Never open it while your car engine's still hot! That's a good way to get pressurized, superheated steam right in your face.
How to use antifreeze in your car's radiator
Every time you stop to get gas, take a look under your hood and check the coolant level in the radiator overflow tank. You'll see two marks on the side of the tank, which are the highest and lowest points that the coolant's supposed to be.
As long as the coolant level is between the two marks, everything's fine. If it's just a bit below the bottom mark, you can add a bit of plain water to bring it up. If it's more than a quart below, add in a water-antifreeze mixture. Most service stations sell premixed containers.
The white smoke of death
Well, it's not really that bad. But if you see white smoke coming out of your exhaust, it's probably time to replace your head gasket. You don't want all that good antifreeze leaking out, do you?
