Do not save on antifreeze - by pouring water into the refrigerator you will destroy the engine

Antifreeze

AND FLYING ANTIFRIES!

Birds on the branch must know that there is a freezing agent in the engine in winter. However, we bring you some very convincing arguments as to why it is necessary to have equally good anti-freeze in the engine in the summer!

A classic example of a used water pump through which only water circulated in the summer months

 

The good thing about drivers is that in the winter everyone is making sure they have a good enough engine coolant. Since this is a winter, in addition to the basic engine cooling function, this liquid should by no means be frozen inside the engine block or inside the radiator. The freezing point can be easily determined. Today, there are very simple devices by which the crystallization point of a coolant can be determined very precisely and based on several key parameters.

However, quite a few drivers in the summer tend to drop the popular "antifreeze" from the engine, and pour plain water. Worst of all, this is something that people who call themselves auto mechanics and auto parts dealers (who, when winter comes, sell them new antifreeze again) are advised. There are various explanations for why this should be done, from damaging the engine to a simple saying: "Well, there you go!"

Today, in every car repair shop there is a device that will very accurately determine the freezing point of the refrigerant

However, antifreeze has long ceased to be just a water-miscible agent, thus preventing the freezing of water. Of course, freezing fluid in the engine means overheating the engine or, in the worst case, bursting the head or block of the engine!

Today, antifreeze is a high-tech blend of various chemicals that play a multifaceted role in the engine. We have already mentioned the primary role, however, no less important is the fact that quality fly antifreeze improves engine cooling. Simply put, it transfers heat faster. Realistically speaking, plain water will also cool the engine. However, plain water has a very negative effect on the engine itself, and especially on the engine cooler.

It is also known that corrosion is an electrochemical process of metal oxidation. However, technological advances have led to this becoming an increasingly rare occurrence in engines. Simply put, engine coolants contain various additives that stabilize the differences in the electrical conductivity of different metals through the cooling process.

Increasingly powerful and efficient engines also require better cooling. Crucially, there is a fridge of a suitable size, and a water pump that has sufficient flow to cool a modern engine. Some modern turbo diesel engines have the added ability to increase power in a very short time. This also requires additional combustion of the fuel and therefore an additional increase in engine temperature. Then (maybe electric) water pump briefly increases the flow rate and provides better cooling for the engine, which is at full load at these times. Of course, such a water pump has little to do with a water pump from, for example, a Golf II, except that they have the same task, to cool the engine as much as possible. The complexity of the new water pumps has made their moving parts practically lubricated. This was accomplished by the addition of new high-tech additives to the refrigerants that practically play the role of an "oil" that lubricates the water pump bearings. Ordinary water for such engines having complex water pumps (new BMWThese engines have electric water pumps that work as needed), which means very fast "death" of the pumps as well as the cooler.

Modern Volkswagen Group cars today use the G12-branded coolant. Most antifreeze manufacturers have this coolant in their program, so drivers have no dilemma when choosing.

The eternal question is which means to choose, and in what ratio to mix water and antifreeze? It is easiest for drivers of newer VW vehicles. On these cars, there is a label on the expansion tank that indicates the type of coolant. In this particular case, the popular designation is G12. Everything that is poured, except for that liquid, does not fully correspond to that engine, that is, to the parts that are in charge of cooling. The G12 has a characteristic red color, and is currently the most complex product you can buy over-the-counter. Today, it is used in almost all VW engines, while it is recommended by most other manufacturers, unless otherwise required. Its advantage is very strong anti-corrosion protection, and very good lubrication of the moving parts of the water pump. The disadvantage of this agent can be manifested when used on older models, because it tends to leak through microcracks in the cooling system, which occur naturally during operation. At the same time, the G12 is also the most expensive asset on the market. We advise you not to be prejudiced against the funds you buy over-the-counter, only if they are a product from a well-known manufacturer. Please note (for all those who already have G12 in their engine, or just intend to put it on) that G12 must not be mixed with other agents (for example G11 or ordinary antifreeze).

Finally, in what ratio should water and antifreeze be mixed? First of all, "ordinary" water should not be poured into the refrigerator, but distilled water! Reason? Less possibility of metal oxidation and lower possibility of limescale deposition.

The ratio between distilled water and antifreeze recommended by the manufacturers is a maximum of 65 percent in favor of antifreeze. This is because too much antifreeze can cause bubbles to form at high engine temperatures, which then create explosions inside the radiator caused by high pressure from the closed cooling system. This can then permanently destroy the very sensitive walls of the radiator, and even the seal between the head and the engine block.

The best ratio is 50:50 percent, if the installation, that is, a car of a relatively newer year (unfortunately, according to our standards, it is up to 10 years). This will ensure a safe ride of up to 40 degrees Celsius below zero. However, if two thirds of the cooling system is water, winter can be safely overcome again, because that means that the freezing point is approximately -25 C.

Also, agents that have already been diluted (usually with a freezing point of -25 to -40 C) can be poured without mixing with distilled water. This has already been done for the end user by the manufacturer of this asset.

What conclusion can we draw? The engine coolant, ie the antifreeze, must be of high quality. As banal as it may seem, one must still keep an eye on the manufacturer as well as the price.

Coolant fluids must be changed every two years, no matter what your mechanic tells you to do. Thousands of engineers just working on how to extend the life of that fluid advise you, so think who's right!

Text: Adnan Huseinagic
Downloaded from: proauto.ba

Mladen

Hi there, I am Mladen and I am an auto enthusiast. I started this blog years ago to help like minded people share information about latest cars, car servicing ideas, used car info, exotic cars, and auto technology. You will find helpful articles and videos on a wide variety of cars - Audi, Mercedes, Toyota, Porsche, Volvo, BMW and much more. Ping us if you have anything cool to share on latest cars or on how to make older cars more efficient, or just want to say hi!