The Purpose of Antifreeze

During this time of year, you may hear many people talk about getting a car winter safety inspection done to their vehicles. People will be concerned about fluid checks, engine repair, and other aspects of general car maintenance. You will hear terms such as viscosity and cold-cranking amps. You will even hear all kinds of advice given from people who will give you their picks of mechanics, engine oil, and even antifreeze. Antifreeze may be one of those things that you never gave serious thought until now. Just what is the purpose of antifreeze anyway?

Antifreeze – What is it?

Antifreeze is a liquid that has ethylene glycol, a toxic substance for humans and animals, as the active ingredient. It is formulated with anti-corrosion and lubricating substances, and water. It lowers the freezing point, raises the boiling point of the liquid, and is usually bright green in color. Another form is made with a nontoxic substance, propylene glycol and it is usually red in color. Both coolants contain the same anti-corrosion ingredients. These additives protect the radiator by coating the interior of the engine, hoses, pipes, and radiator.  The lubricating ingredients help provide a seal around the water pump. Antifreeze is usually sold in a one-gallon plastic container. Some formulas require that you mix with water while others can be used immediately from the bottle. The prices vary depending on which type of antifreeze you go with, but the ready-to-use name brands are at the top of the high price spectrum. 

Where does it go?

Coolants are dispensed in the radiator. The coolant passes through the engine and absorbs the heat. This hot coolant travels through hoses into the inlet tank of the radiator and distributed throughout the radiator core. As it circulates through the tubes on its way out to the opposite tank, the liquid cools as the heat is transferred from the liquid to the tubes, and then from the tubes to the fins that are located between each row of tubes. The heat is dissipated via the fins to the outside air. Then the cooled fluid flows back through to the engine to repeat the process. Your owner’s manual will give you instructions on how to put coolant in your car. If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, you can have your mechanic to do it for you. 

What Purpose Does it Serve?

The cooling system keeps the fluid from freezing in the winter, especially in the northern and eastern states where the temperature can tumble below zero. A mixture of one part antifreeze to one part water is normally used in cars. The fluid will not freeze when the temperature dips and it will provide coolness to the engine to keep it from overheating. A low level of antifreeze in the car is one of the most common causes of overheating. Coolants also act as a lubricant by protecting the radiator. The additives also include a detergent that helps to keep the radiator clean. It will keep dirt, grime, and corrosion from accumulating. If your coolant level is too low, your radiator could become clogged with dirt or develop rust or calcium buildup. You should check with your owner’s manual to determine if your car requires any brand or formulation that is unique for your car. Make sure that your coolant levels are checked when you are having your fluid checks and winter safety inspection done. 

Feet on the Ground: Tire Maintenance

One of the most important parts of your car is the tires. They are what make the car go forward and what keep you off the ground as it does. But tires affect much more than the car’s momentum. The care of your tires affect fuel efficiency in your car, they affect the control you have over the vehicle’s trajectory, the ability to stop the vehicle with ease, and many other factors. That’s why it’s important to make sure you take care of your tires, instead of simply letting them wear down and become nothing but flat streaks of rubber, or wait until they blow before even considering looking at them. There are a bunch of things to do to make sure your tires stay up to par and keep you safe and secure.

The Importance of Alignment

The tires on your car are all aligned so that when the vehicle moves forward or backward they’re perfectly straight and parallel to one another. This tire alignment is important for a variety of factors.  When a wheel is facing off center it requires more force to get it turning, which can severely impact your fuel efficiency and get you less distance for more. Furthermore the wheel alignment being off will slowly hurt the health of the tire and the axel it’s on, putting pressure on parts that weren’t meant to take pressure in order to compensate. And finally with the alignment off you have significantly less control over the vehicle, which could cause a lot of problems if not looked after.

Tire Pressure

Tires are essentially inflated rubber wheels that support your car. The tire is secured to the axel where it becomes airtight, filled with air that will help keep the car off of the rims and going. The tire pressure is what keeps the car up, and can greatly impact performance of the car if it’s lacking or if you have too much air in the tires. If a tire has too little air in it the rims could be damaged by the weight, should they touch the ground. The tire itself becomes warped, and it requires more fuel to push the car along. Ever try rolling a half circle around? It continuously comes to rest on the flat side and requires more effort to get up.

Tire Safety

Since the tires are so important to the vehicle, it’s important to make sure they remain undamaged and functioning. Tire inspections help to make sure everything is functioning just right, including the tire pressure, how the tires interact with the brakes and brake pads, the steering and suspension, and the suspension systems themselves. It’s all part of general car maintenance you should be performing regularly, and in the worst case it’s an added bonus when swapping tires for winter tires as part of winter safety. Keeping those tires in tip top shape can make a huge difference to your wallet and your life, since it’s a huge part of automobile safety and can be the changing factor in an accident.

Everyday Care Maintenenace Made Easy

Sometimes maintenance is not all that’s necessary to keeping a car up to standard. It’s

one thing to make sure the oil is changed and the coolant is full, but it’s another thing

to look after the car as a whole. With the proper care a car can last you for years,

however with neglect and no intention, the car will quickly fall into disrepair and start

to look bad, perform poorly and all around degrade in value. Car care is important

especially if you intend on selling the car in the future, whether to buy a newer model

or because you no longer need a vehicle, there are some things that are important to

keep in mind when it comes to keeping your car in tip top shape for even longer.

Run It Daily

A car that sits stagnant will slowly start to degrade. The fluids inside will start to

evaporate, and without the constant use, they could become ruined and stale. The gas

in the tank gives off fumes that will slowly add pressure to the car, causing potential

leaks and other problems, and can evaporate as well, causing you to lose some of your

fuel. This is why it’s important to start your car every so often, perhaps even take it for

a quick drive, in order to get the fuel going and the fluids pumping. This way too, you

can tell if there are any potential issues that require maintenance based on the

performance of the vehicle and the levels of the fluids as they sit.

Clean it Often

A clean car is a healthy car. Most people clean their cars simply because they enjoy the

feel of a sparkling fresh vehicle when driving around, however some realize the

benefits a good clean has for the car itself. Dirt builds up over time all over the vehicle,

including nooks and crannies that rain water simply doesn’t get. Rain water also

doesn’t have soap or wax, so it can hardly give a real clean and often just spreads dirt

around. A good clean can help remove dirt, especially during and after the winter

months, keeping the vehicle from potentially rusting and preventing friction against

the tires, the axles, the brake pads and more. Plus a smooth coat of wax applied

afterward will prevent the dirty from immediately clinging right back to these parts.

Be Careful as you Drive

Often the best way to keep your car healthy and clean is to watch the road. While it’s

good to take your car out for a ride now and then to keep it from getting stagnant, the

value goes down at certain milestones as you put more distance on the odometer.

Keeping long trips to a minimum can keep the value of the car high while keeping

strain off of the parts, allowing them to stay longer. Avoiding going over bumps is

another big one as it keeps the stress off of your chassis and doesn’t cause things to

rattle around. And avoiding dirt and puddles to keep your car clean can prevent rust

and deterioration as mentioned above, all leading to longevity in your vehicle.

Brakes for the Memories

The braking system of a car is not thought of as intensely as other systems until something goes wrong. It is important to have your brakes and brake pads inspected, especially during a winter safety inspection. Your brakes are just as important as the electrical system or any other system of your car and they play an integral part in the safety of your car and of the other drivers on the road. You should make sure that you understand the basics of your braking system and warning signs that will alert you that something is wrong and needs to be addressed immediately.

Brakes and Brake Pads

The first part to inspect would be the brake discs. These large, circular discs should have a shiny appearance from the outer edge to the inside. The surface of a disc with normal wear would appear to have lines on the surface. If you notice deep gashes and gouges in the surface, then you should replace them immediately. This means that the discs have been rubbing against another metal piece and created those grooves. These grooves compromise the integrity of the disc and can cause it to crack under continued use. Brake discs should be replaced in pairs to ensure even wear and a safer driving experience. The next thing to inspect would be the brake pads. They are located at the top of the disc. The pads have a layer of padding that rests against the disc. When the brakes are engaged, the pads are pressed and clamped against the disc to stop the car. The pads wear over time and increased usage of the brakes will wear the pads out quicker. If you see less than one-eighth of an inch of cushion on the pads, you should replace them. You should also check the brake lines, which are hoses that carry the brake fluid through the braking system. If the hoses are rubber, the texture of the rubber should be supple and not brittle; if the hoses are metal, they should be free of corrosion.

Warning Signs of a Problem

If you notice that you need to press on the brake pedal more firmly than previous times, it might be time to replace the brake pads. Replacing the pads at this stage is easier than replacing it later when further damage occurs. If you let the problem persist, you will begin to notice a grinding sound that is accompanied by a slight shuddering motion of the car when you press on the brakes. At this stage, the damage is occurring to the brake disc as the metal from one side grinds against the metal of the other side. The grinding could cause the disc to crack and the result would be a collision with another car or a pedestrian or a building. 

More to Safety

One important task that is often overlooked is having the brakes drained and refilled. Most manufacturers recommend that this should be done every two or three years. The brake fluid is the substance that lubricates the brakes and keeps moisture from accumulating in the hydraulic system to cause rust, leaks, and blockages. This fluid needs to be replaced in order to keep the brake system clean and unobstructed. If the fluid is not changed, it could form blockages in the brake lines. Your mechanic can perform this function for you and can even include it in your winter safety inspection.