To keep the water in the cooling system from freezing the water is mixed with antifreeze / coolant.
This contains a chemical called “ethylene -glycol”, which can keep water from freezing at temperatures far below the 32 degrees (0 degrees Celsius) usually required to freeze water at normal temperatures and can retard boiling so that the resulting mixture of water and anti-freeze /coolant will not boil and turn to steam until it reaches a much higher temperature than the 212 degrees F normally required.

Most antifreeze / coolant contain about 95 % ethylene glycol plus rust corrosion and foaming inhibitors. This means that coolant does more than just keep the water in a liquid state. It helps to prevent the formation of rust on the metal surfaces of the engine and the radiator, lubricates the water pump and keeps the liquid from foaming as it circulates through the system. Since the early 1960’s auto manufacturers have designed the cooling systems of most cars for a 50-50 mixture of ethylene glycol and water – and that is generally considered the proper proportion of coolant and water for the cooling systems of most cars – even in the forty below zero temperatures common in the cold winter times in such locales as Winnipeg Manitoba Canada.

If your car’s cooling system is operating properly. You should not have to add water to it. The more water you have to add, the more you dilute the coolant in your system. Since the generally recommended proportion of coolant and water is 50-50 ( although you can use a higher proportion of coolant if you need or prefer it), sooner or later you are going to tip that balance in favor of water if you simply keep adding to it without adding glycol based coolant. Even if your car , truck or SUV is not loosing water, experienced mechanics and auto dealership service techs recommend that you should flush the system and replace the coolant at least once a year generally – that is depending on the type and brand of coolant. Some types are designated to be replaced annually, some less and some not at all for the life of the vehicle. It might be said also that personal preferences involve this endlessly debated question as well.

To further retard the boiling point of the liquid in the cooling system, the entire system is placed under atmospheric pressure. This pressure generally runs at between 7 and 16 pounds per square inch (psi). As the pressure goes up, the boiling point also rises. This combination of pressure + coolant results in the ability of the liquid in your cooling system to resist boiling at temperatures that can rise as high as 250 degrees F or more in some high end cars.

Lastly to keep the lid on the pressure in your cooling system each car radiator has a removable radiator pressure cap on its radiator fill whole. These are relatively inexpensive, but if you have a cap that is not working properly or if you have the wrong type of cap, you would be amazed at the amount of trouble it can cause. Simply take the time to visit your local auto parts store or dealership and have the cap replaced. It is simple as that.

Author Bio: Craig I Jones
Traffic Ticket Winnipeg
Traffic Ticket Winnipeg always strives to provide the very best in court
representations for both traffic ticket, speeding ticket & Red Light Camera City
of Wpg Tickets & Province of
Manitoba Highway Traffic Tickets

Category: Automotive
Keywords: automotive maintenance,auto cooling systems,car anti-freeze care,auto blogs,auto summer service