Today antifreeze is an integral component of every modern car. It is this fluid that performs the function of cooling the engine of the vehicle, and also contributes to the coordinated operation of heating systems.
The importance of the presence of antifreeze is comparable to the presence of motor oil, because in both cases the absence of a particular fluid will inevitably lead to breakdown and
overheating of the machine
engine . And today we will devote a separate article to such an important element as antifreeze.
What it is?
Antifreeze is a liquid that consists of a glycol base (it can be propylene or ethylene glycol), as well as several additives. The latter perform several functions - anti-corrosion, stabilizing and anti-foam.
Ethylene glycol itself is a low-freezing aqueous solution having
a boiling point of about 200 degrees Celsius. A liquid on this basis appeared in the world about 80 years ago. It was developed by BASF and received the name "Glysanthin" (antifreeze for heating systems and ICE cooling systems). A similar name is still used by BASF to label its products of coolants.
Differences Between Antifreeze and Antifreeze
Recently, there has been a lot of debate about which agent is best to pour into SOD - antifreeze or antifreeze. To find out the true answer, we will analyze everything in order. So, antifreeze. The concept of "antifreeze", which is translated from English as "non-freezing", has long been used to refer to coolants produced in Europe and the USA. Antifreeze is the same as antifreeze. Its only difference is that it is produced exclusively in the countries of the former USSR. That is, antifreeze is, one might say, Russian antifreeze, however, it appeared only in the early 70s of the last century.
Coloring
Now green and even fiery-orange antifreeze have begun to be imported into car dealerships. What it is? In fact, this is the same antifreeze, only with dye.
If domestic manufacturers paint their products in a single, blue-blue tint, then abroad antifreeze firms produce different antifreeze (yellow, red and so on). Such a variety sometimes introduces into a stupor car owners when choosing the right fluid. In fact, there are no significant differences between multi-colored antifreezes. All of them differ only in the amount of dye available inside. Thus, the color of antifreeze is just a marketing ploy of companies. They are the ones who are trying to attract the attention of a large circle of consumers to bright and “unusual” coolants in this way.
Antifreeze for heating and SOD, whether it is blue or green, is equally important for a car.
Is it possible to mix coolants of different brands and manufacturers?
The answer to this question is ambiguous. Of course, many motorists will be surprised to accept the fact that antifreeze of one brand can be diluted with a liquid of another. And they are partially right. You can mix antifreeze only if both substances have the same amount of additives. Different companies use different additives for their products, so such liquids will not always be compatible with each other. The color of antifreeze does not matter here.
Yes, ethylene glycol in all antifreezes has the same composition. You can mix it in any proportions. But with additives, the situation is completely different. Some, depending on the manufacturer, may be inorganic compounds (phosphate, amine and boron nitride), others may be chemical compounds of a new generation. Therefore, when these substances are combined, all the lubricating and anti-corrosion properties that the coolant previously provided, deteriorate several times. There is only one conclusion from this - to mix different antifreezes without reading the composition of their additives is highly not recommended. Otherwise, this will lead to frequent overheating, and, accordingly, to a decrease in the service life of the engine and heating systems.
How not to get a fake?
Unfortunately, neither in Russia nor in Europe there is a single standard that would regulate the life of the coolant. In other words, antifreeze certification is optional. Therefore, to determine whether it is a quality antifreeze or a fake, it is simply impossible without special studies.
However, not everything is so hopeless. You can reduce the risk of buying a fake, most importantly, that the product was chosen correctly. When buying antifreeze, you should pay attention to such aspects:
- Place of purchase. If you buy goods in a specialized store, the risk of finding a fake there is reduced at times. Remember that the more famous this point is in the city (region), the less likely it is to come across scammers. Such stores must be checked and unconditionally provide all documents and quality certificates for the delivered batch of goods.
- Information on the label. When choosing, carefully read what is written on the label. On the canister with high-quality antifreeze, the TU number or the manufacturer's standard is always marked. The latter is most often found on imported antifreezes. You should also look at the expiration date and date of manufacture of the goods. And finally, we note that all bona fide manufacturers always indicate their coordinates and addresses on the label. If this is an antifreeze without the manufacturer’s brand and with missing data on the technical specifications, then it was poured in the garage way, that is, it is a fake.
- Cost . Naturally, antifreeze, which can be bought at the price of the same volume of mineral water, is not quality. But the most expensive antifreeze is not necessary to buy. It is better to adhere to the principle of the "golden mean", well, and if possible find reviews on the Internet about this manufacturer. Otherwise, antifreeze for car heating systems will not bring any benefit. The motor will constantly overheat, and the stove will supply only cold air.
Mixing antifreeze with oil
Oil appeared in antifreeze. What to do? In general, this phenomenon is very rare in imported and domestic cars (often antifreeze simply “foams” in the expansion tank). But what to do in this situation? To begin with, we note that most modern passenger cars, especially imported ones, are equipped with a special heat exchanger located on the oil filter housing . At this point, the oil is exchanged with the coolant. And if this heat exchanger has lost its previous tightness, the possibility of mixing both substances in a car increases significantly.
By the way, with a running engine, the probability of oil penetrating SOD is much higher than with a broken engine (even if it is the most expensive antifreeze). What it is? In fact, everything is very simple. This phenomenon is due to pressure within the system. When the engine is off, after a few minutes, its level will be almost equal to atmospheric.
The consequences of mixing antifreeze with oil
Remember that ethylene glycol, when mixed with oil, can significantly impair the operation of the engine and its components, therefore, if the percentage of its content exceeds the mark of 0.35 percent, you should immediately contact a car service. Otherwise, it is fraught with corrosion of the engine and damage to the oily film on the cylinder walls.
How often do I need to change antifreeze?
What is it and what is this liquid used for, we have already found out. Now about the frequency of replacement.
A change of antifreeze is recommended every 60-80 thousand kilometers, and preferably before the onset of winter cold. With the new antifreeze, both the stove and the engine will work smoothly for several months and even years.