Antifreeze is a fluid that’s just as important as oil to the engine in your car, truck, or SUV. You probably already know it’s essential to keeping your engine cool - but it’s important for more than one reason, and does require maintenance besides keeping it full. From Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service in Midlotian, VA, here’s what you need to know about antifreeze.
Why is maintaining your antifreeze so important?
Antifreeze is a fluid that’s just as important as oil to the engine in your car, truck, or SUV. You probably already know it’s essential to keep your engine cool - but it’s important for more than one reason, and does require maintenance besides keeping it full. From Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service in Midlotian, VA, here’s what you need to know about antifreeze. Cooling Antifreeze keeps your engine from overheating. The circulation of this fluid is all that stands in between a good, reliable vehicle, and an engine that becomes a steaming pile of scrap metal on your way to work in the morning. The science is pretty easy to understand - metal expands as it heats, and if it heats up too much, components begin to warp, and clearances become tighter and tighter. Eventually, the engine locks up, blows a head gasket, or spins a bearing. If you don’t know what any of that means, it doesn’t really matter - basically your engine is done for in all three scenarios.
Lubrication and Rust Prevention
Can you just use water instead? Yes, but it isn’t worth the trouble. Antifreeze is lubricating, which keeps components like the water pump and various valves within the system in good working order. It’s also less corrosive than water, preventing rust and corrosion from blocking radiators, ruining thermostats, and clogging ports and passageways. While water will work if you don't anticipate freezing becoming an issue, antifreeze is still a much better option. Freeze Prevention It’s in the name. Think about forgetting a bottle of coke in the freezer, and how much of a mess that makes. Now imagine it’s a five thousand dollar engine, and you’ll see why this is a big deal.
What do I need to do?
Maintaining antifreeze isn’t that difficult, but there’s more to it than just topping it off. It’s essential that you have it checked every once in a while. Over time, antifreeze loses its ability to resist freezing, which can and will cause a lot of damage if neglected. It has to be tested, and if necessary flushed and replaced. Coolant flushing is something that should be done with regularity anyway, as it gets all the particles, debris, and dirty antifreeze out of the system, which keeps you reliably on the road. If your vehicle is in need of maintenance or repair, you’re in good hands with the professional technicians at Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service. For the best repair shop in Midlotian, VA, come see us today.
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