Car Coolant Problems
Among the critical liquids needed to keep a car running, engine coolant comes into play when temperatures are in the extreme. Sure, you could technically use water as a coolant, but it won't last as long and it enhances corrosion in engine parts. Coolant solves both problems and is formulated to protect your engine's functions. However, as a product it does have its limitations.
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How Does Engine Coolant Work?
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As a man-made, chemical formula, engine coolant is designed to be mixed with water and to provide extended ability for engines to run beyond typical freezing and boiling points.
Normally water liquids boil at 180 degrees Fahrenheit and freeze at 32 degrees. However, this is impractical when an engine can reach temperatures over 400 degrees and run in conditions below zero degrees. Coolant is designed to take the place of raw water and allows an engine to function with liquid coolant under extreme conditions. This then protects the engine from overheating or not having coolant at all when running in the cold.
Heat Problems
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The primary function of coolant is to distribute engine heat so that a car engine doesn't get so hot that the engine parts burn up lubrication and break. However, coolant still needs water to work at its best potential. If run at 100 percent coolant, the heat dissipation of coolant alone is actually less than full potential because the viscosity of pure coolant doesn't remove heat very well. So some level of water is needed. Too little coolant, however, and water can evaporate, causing a shortage. So the mix needs to be at best 70 percent coolant to 30 percent water for hot engine running.
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Cold Problems
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Coolant doesn't like to work properly at 100 percent in extreme cold either. The optimum coolant performance tends to reach it's edge at -32 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. But again, this requires a bit of a water mix involved. No water, and the extreme edge actually lessens in capability to closer to -20 degrees.
Mixing Coolant Brands
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Different coolant brands use different chemicals. They are not all the same product. This creates a risk for the unwary. The primary culprit is the additives used in coolant. Many of these additives are for cleaning and inhibiting rust. However, because the additives are not the same compounds or materials, mixing different brands can cause some of the components to gel. When this occurs, it causes blockages in your cooling system hoses, pipes and water pump. That in effect stops your cooling system from working and then the engine overheats.
Lack of Regular Car Maintenance
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Engine coolant should be regularly changed and flushed along with other engine fluids. Failure to keep up maintenance can put your cooling system at risk and can also cause a buildup of sediment in the cooling system. Eventually, coolant does get consumed and the level will drop. This of course can also lead to engine overheating when more coolant is not added regularly.
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