About Car Engine Coolant and Its Importance

by Jan Martin Consultant

The proper functioning of a car depends on optimum functioning of several different parts. Leaving one will cause a plethora of problems and even a breakdown leading to a lot of distress and sometimes even life threatening situations. One such extremely component if the car engine coolant without which the entire engine crashes.

As the name suggests, coolants are liquids which regulate the core temperatures of the car engine and is an excellent heat transfer medium. Any extreme temperature, whether high or low, are intolerable for the engine. They are generally mixed in equal ratios with water and chiefly consist of gycol, defoamer, dye and inhibitors. Coolant leaks are major causes of car breakdown and cause a hefty dent in the pocket as well. Here are five good reasons why car coolants are so essential for proper functioning of the car:

1. Anti-heating component: Due to constant functioning of the engine there is a tremendous amount of wear and tear of all the parts leading to a release of high amount heat. This heats up the entire engine and can be a major cause of further damage. To counter this, the coolant helps in bringing down the temperature while in constant circulation. The coolant liquid gets heated at higher temperatures than boiling point of water. Thus the water does not evaporate and dry up easily.

2. Anti-freezing: In places where temperatures are freezing, there is a high chance of liquids in the car to freeze and rupture the pipes and other machinery parts. Here coolants due to its lower freezing point keeps the engine warm and avoids solidifying of liquids. It acts like an anti-freezing agent.

3. Inhibits corrosion: The coolants have magical anti-rust and anti-friction qualities which help in longer lives of the machinery parts. It is highly non-corrosive and protects the car parts from a great amount of damage due to wear and tear.

4. Non-foaming: Foams formed in the engines are a major cause of residue formation on the engine parts. Coolants are non-foaming by nature and thus put an end to this particular problem as well.

5. Last but not the least coolants come at very reasonable and even cheap rates and increase the longevity of the engine. It helps in lubrication as well and keeps the engine components in its optimal working conditions.

Don't forget to know the importance of car engine oil that improves the life cycle of a car.

All said and done, caution should be taken as to which coolant suits the bets for a particular car. Signs like burnt smell, gritty texture and overheating are all indications of coolant depletion in the system which needs to be immediately addressed by a professional mechanic. Of course you don't want your car to crash down in the middle of the road!