Coolant is commonly also called antifreeze. It is comprised of a 50/50 mix of ethylene or propylene glycol and water. Coolant/antifreeze is added to a vehicle’s cooling system, which circulates the fluid throughout the engine and radiator to prevent overheating. If your vehicle’s cooling system is functioning properly, it will effectively reduce the heat produced by the engine and keep everything running smoothly. Without regular coolant service, the cooling system may not function as it should, causing the engine to become too hot and cause damage such as warped heads, blown head gaskets, or even engine failure.
Coolant is also called antifreeze because, as the name suggests, it will not freeze even in extremely cold temperatures. As coolant keeps the engine from overheating it also keeps it from freezing up when left to sit in the cold. Frozen fluid may prevent your car from starting on cold winter mornings.
It is important to make sure that you have enough coolant in your vehicle at all times to stave off premature coolant system corrosion, as well. The best way to stay on top of potential problems with your coolant system is with regular coolant service as a trusted auto repair shop.
Most passenger cars need a coolant service around 100,000 miles. Some older vehicles may require service more often. However, heavy duty trucks may use coolants that last a million miles.
Yes, engine coolant does go bad. Older fluid may cause acid buildup, may become contaminated by rust or scaling, may have reduced resistance to boiling, freezing, and additives get used up. Deteriorated coolant/antifreeze may cause your engine to run hotter than normal or keep the engine from starting in colder temperatures.
Yes, newer additive technology allows antifreeze to be a lot more maintenance-free than coolants in the past.
