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Why You Should Assess The Coolant When Conducting Safety Inspections For Your Car

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Have you ever noticed that there are different colours of car coolants on the market? Owners of cars need to pay special attention to the coolant/antifreeze that they place in the cooling systems of their vehicles. Below are several reasons why you should check the coolant of your car during safety inspections

Different Radiator Materials

Different carmakers use different materials to make radiators. For example, some manufacturers will make radiators from aluminium while others may use plastic. Antifreeze or coolant has additives that may not be compatible with the materials from which the radiator was made. You should, therefore, desist from assuming that the coolant you used in your previous car will properly work with your present car.

Different Environmental Challenges

Some cars may not have been designed with the environmental conditions at your location in mind. For instance, some cars perform poorly when they are used in hot areas instead of temperate climates. The coolant that you place in your vehicle should, therefore, be formulated to work well in the conditions where the car will be used. Make sure that your choice doesn't compromise the service life of the radiator.

Differences in Water Pumps

Another reason why coolants for your car should be selected carefully arises when you consider the different metals from which water pumps are made. The basic constituent of coolant is glycol. The other elements added depend on what special protections that vehicle needs. For instance, water pumps made from steel require different corrosion protection than water pumps that were made from a mixture of nickel and zinc. You should avoid using coolants that aren't designed to offer maximum protection for the water pump materials. Any error that you make in this regard will result in a gradual deterioration of that pump until it fails completely.

Flush Intervals

Some cars require a flush of the cooling system more frequently than may be necessary for other cars. It is, therefore, essential for you to select a coolant whose useful life matches the duration that you have to wait before you perform the system flush. It would be wasteful for you to flush out the coolant if it has barely reached half its expected service life.

The different colours of coolants usually signify a difference in the formulation of those products. Select the colours/formulations that are recommended by the carmaker. Make sure that your mechanic assesses the perfect coolant for your car during the safety inspection process to prevent any problems.


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