Anti-freeze: it’s a critical component in your car’s cooling system. And it’s especially crucial during the cold winter months. While many people know what antifreeze is (and that it’s toxic to pets), not everyone understands what it does or how to check that their car has enough of it.
Here’s what you need to know about checking your car’s antifreeze levels.
What Does AntiFreeze do?
Antifreeze serves two critical purposes: it keeps the water in your car’s system from freezing, and it raises the boiling point of your engine’s coolant to prevent overheating and other heat-related issues.
Added to your engine’s cooling system, antifreeze prevents water from freezing under cold weather conditions, which can ruin your radiator and other engine components.
It also helps reduce friction and corrosion in the engine during colder weather, streamlines heat transfer, and prevents the buildup of scale and grime.
3 Steps to Check if You Have Enough AntiFreeze
Antifreeze protects your engine during the chilly winter months, so making sure you have enough of it is an excellent skill to learn. Here’s your guide to checking to see if you have the recommended levels for your vehicle:
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Find the Antifreeze Reservoir in Your Engine. Lift your car’s engine hood and locate the antifreeze reservoir. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, it will likely be on the top of the engine, near the hinge of the hood. If you need help finding it, refer to your owner’s manual.
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Check the Liquid. When you check your oil, you need to remove a cap and insert a dipstick. When you check your anti-freeze, though, you just need to verify that the liquid reaches the “full” line in the reservoir. The tank is transparent and will allow you to see the liquid volume without issue.
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Fill the Reservoir if Needed. If the liquid doesn’t reach the “full” line, open a new bottle of antifreeze and fill the tank. Bear in mind that some antifreeze needs to be mixed 50/50 with water, while some is premixed. Be sure to check the bottle to figure out which version you’re using. Because anti-freeze gets very hot, you should wait to take the cap off the reservoir until the engine is completely cool.
Get Your Car Cold-Weather Ready With Our Pensacola Auto Repair Team
As the weather gets colder, it’s critical to maintain your car’s cooling system. It’s not recommended to do this by yourself.
Whether you need a simple battery replacement, radiator service, or some assistance checking and filling your car’s cooling fluids, our team is here to help you prepare your car for winter.
Contact us today to speak with our full-service team of auto repair specialists and learn more about what we can do for you.