The Importance of Antifreeze/Coolant

It's extremely important that your car is running in pristine condition, especially during the winter months. Antifreeze, also known as coolant, is important to have in your car year-round but is especially important for the cold, winter season. Your trusted Camdenton car dealership takes a closer look at why antifreeze is important to your vehicle running correctly, not just during the winter months, but all year long.

What is Antifreeze?

Antifreeze is a mixture of glycol and water. Antifreeze can come premixed or as a concentrate. If your antifreeze is not premixed, a good rule of thumb is to mix it with water at 50/50. More antifreeze in the mix will increase the boiling point and decrease the freezing point. However, a 50/50 mix will work for the kinds of conditions the engine will face. When the engine burns gasoline, nearly 1/3 of the energy produced ends up as waste, either in the form of excess heat energy or exhaust. The heat energy that remains in the engine will sit and fester without antifreeze, which is how it overheats and eventually breakdown. The antifreeze mixture is moved through the engine by a water pump. As it circulates through the engine, it absorbs the excess heat energy and carries it to the radiator.

Why Antifreeze is Important

Without antifreeze, the heat that is produced would destroy the engine very quickly. Water alone is not entirely adequate to keep the system cool. The high temperatures inside the motor would eventually boil it off and over time, it would eventually evaporate entirely. In addition, in cold weather, the water would freeze when the vehicle is idle. For these reasons, the mix of antifreeze is vital to the proper working operation of the coolant system.

Maintenance of Antifreeze

It's important to check the amount of antifreeze in a vehicle before the change of the seasons, as the drastic changes of the weather can be hard on a car's engine. In addition, it needs to be inspected every so often to protect against corrosion. While the main component of antifreeze, glycol does not expire, any additives to inhibit corrosion eventually do. It's recommended to change the coolant every 30,000 miles. The radiator should be kept in good working condition as well. If rust is allowed to build up, the heat exchanger may fail to function properly, which could lead to problems down the road.

An engine's cooling system is an area that must be looked after from time to time to ensure your vehicle does not overheat. Many mechanical breakdowns are caused by overheating engines. Ensuring that the cooling system, such as the radiator, water pump and thermostat work well, as well as ensuring it has the proper amount of antifreeze mix, can help you avoid having issues down the road. If you are needing to schedule a vehicle maintenance appointment at the Lake of the Ozarks, call 573-317-4195 or go to www.ShopHulett.com.

That's The Way We Do It At Hulett!

513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO  65020

Sales: 573.317.4191


Service:  573.317.4195

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