Understanding how much coolant does a car take goes a long way to prevent overfilling, which can lead to electrical damage. Underfilling a car coolant can also cause overheating, which is detrimental to the health of the engine. Pouring just the right amount of coolant is essential to keep the engine strong and efficient.
This article will discuss the amount of coolant that is appropriate for your car’s engine and answer the most asked questions about car coolants.
Contents
How Much Coolant Does Your Vehicle Take?
Your vehicle needs about 5 liters of coolant to keep the engine at the optimum temperature and to work properly. The coolant is mixed in a 50:50 ratio, which means 50 percent antifreeze and 50 percent demineralized water. To avoid mixing it yourself, purchase a prediluted coolant.
A coolant is made of antifreeze and water because using either one of them independently would be ineffective. Using only antifreeze, which is either ethylene glycol or propylene, can damage the engine because the antifreeze has a low capacity to transfer heat.
Using only water is dangerous as well because the high temperature of the engine will boil the water and evaporate it. Thus, the most effective way to keep the engine at the right temperature is to combine both substances in a 50:50 ratio.
The antifreeze prevents the water from freezing or boiling during extremely cold or hot temperatures while the water helps to transfer the heat from the engine. If you are aiming to use 5 liters of coolant, then pour 2.5 liters of water and 2.5 liters of antifreeze. Using one more than the other can lead to either overheating or freezing in extreme temperatures.
How Does the Coolant Work in the Engine of a Car?
The coolant works in the engine of a car by passing from the coolant reservoir through the radiator into the water pump, which sends it to the engine block. There, it absorbs the heat from the car engine and regularizes the engine’s temperature.
It then passes to the top of the radiator to cool down. The car’s cooling effect is carried out by the airflow and it is quick. The whole process repeats constantly to keep the engine working at the right temperature. If the coolant is underfilled, it can’t effectively absorb the heat, which can cause overheating.
– The Various Types of Engine Coolants
Engine coolants come in three types – Inorganic acid technology (IAT), organic acid technology (OAT), and Hybrid organic acid technology (HOAT). Each of these coolants has its pros and cons and some of them are appropriate for specific vehicles. Therefore, check your car’s manual to determine which coolant is perfect for your vehicle’s engine. IAT coolants are made for older vehicles, especially ones made after the year 2000 and are bright green.
The IAT coolants last for 30,000 miles, after which they need replacement. OAT coolants come in orange or red color and only require replacement after 150,000 miles. The replacement cost should be between $25 and $130, depending on the type of coolant. The OAT coolants prevent deposits of debris, but can cause the aluminum parts of the engine to rust.
The HOAT coolants combine the qualities of the IAT and OAT and come in yellow, turquoise, pink, blue, and purple. These coolants contain additives such as silicate that protect the metal parts of the engine from rust. Just like the IAT, HOAT coolants can be changed after 150,000 miles or 5 years of usage.
– Adding Coolant
Refilling the coolant is a simple task that anyone can do. All you need is the coolant and the location of the reservoir which is usually at the upper right hand of the engine section.
First, park the car and allow the engine to cool down then check the level of the coolant by monitoring the min and max levels. If the level is down, then check for signs of coolant leakage and when there are none, pour the coolant into the reservoir.
However, if you detect leakages, send your vehicle to an auto repair shop for fixing. It is not advisable to fix the leakages yourself.
When the coolant level is low, it causes overheating in the engine as there’s not enough coolant to absorb the heat. Overheating can cause several problems in the engine parts including the bearings and piston rings, which can cause the check engine light to illuminate.
– Coolant-to-Water Ratio in Winter
The best coolant-to-water ratio during the winter is 60 percent of coolant to 40 percent of water to keep the engine working perfectly. If the weather is extremely cold, we suggest that you increase the coolant to 70 percent and reduce the water to 30 percent.
The reason for the higher amount of coolant is that it has anti-freeze properties that’ll prevent the water from becoming ice. However, ensure that you don’t add too much coolant, or else the engine might overheat because the coolant has poor heat transfer properties. This answers the question “How much antifreeze to water should you mix during winter?”
In addition, if you’re using a coolant that contains ethylene glycol, it is advisable to store it away from children and animals. This is because ethylene glycol is sweet but harmful when ingested.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Should You Put Only Water Instead of Coolant?
No, you should not put only water instead of coolant. Pouring only water into the reservoir can cause overheating as the water will boil and evaporate faster, reducing its level. In extremely cold temperatures, the water will freeze and damage the engine as result.
The best product to use is an anti-freeze with water.
2. Is It Recommended to Overfill the Coolant Reservoir?
No, it is not recommended to overfill the coolant reservoir. Overfilling the coolant can cause spillage and disrupt certain activities of the engine. It can also come out of the exhaust pipe as white smoke, which is a dangerous sign.
Check your car’s manual and be certain about the amount of coolant your engine needs.
Conclusion
We’ve answered the question of how much coolant a car requires to properly function, the types of coolants and the best coolant to water ratio. .
Here’s a summary of the most important points:
- Most cars require around 5 liters of coolant to operate efficiently, but to know the exact quantity, check your vehicle’s manual.
- The three types of coolants are IAT, OAT and HOAT, and each has its pros and cons. However, all are efficient in keeping engines at the right temperature.
- The ideal coolant/water ratio is 50 percent coolant and 50 percent water, however, in extremely cold temperatures you can raise the coolant level to 60 percent and reduce water to 40 percent.
- To add coolant, look for its reservoir which is located under the hood in the upper right corner of the engine section. Pour the coolant into this reservoir.
- Avoid driving with a low level of coolant because it can cause overheating, which could damage certain parts of the engine like the piston rings.
Do not pour only water into the reservoir as water easily boils and evaporates or will freeze in extremely cold temperatures. Also, using only the anti-freeze can cause overheating as it has poor heat absorption properties.
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