Overheating may not be the first thing that comes to your mind as you drive in the winter. Even in these chilly temperatures, unfortunately, your vehicle can overheat if you don’t have the right coolant level and mixture. Find out how to winterize your car and verify the coolant is ready to keep your engine running safely.
Signs of Failing Coolant
Coolant is a mixture of water and antifreeze. Even when properly mixed, this liquid is extremely toxic. In most cases, you won’t have to alter the mixture or level of liquid in your vehicle. Check your reservoir before winter to look for one or more of these signs of failing coolant:
- Coolant overflow: A damaged radiator cap, compromised water pump or malfunctioning sensor can all cause this toxic liquid to overflow. Treat this issue seriously and identify the source of the problem before you continue driving.
- Contamination: The color of this cooling liquid can be blue, purple, yellow or another bright color. If it appears rust colored, dirty or you see visible particles floating in it, then it’s time to drain and replace your coolant.
- Old coolant: Most manufacturers recommend an antifreeze flush approximately every 24,000 miles. Check your owner’s manual for more information on the recommended frequency for your vehicle.
Review the steps of flushing the reservoir, mixing new coolant and refilling the reservoir. Follow professional instructions on these steps to ensure you don’t trap any area in the radiator or expose your new antifreeze mixture to contamination.
Quality Coolant Can Help Your Car
Even in winter, your engine becomes extremely hot as it operates. Overheating is a serious concern that can cause extensive damage to your engine and other critical components. Many vehicles have safety features that turn your engine off if it overheats.
Avoid this issue by ensuring you purchase quality coolant for your vehicle. Don’t reuse old coolant or dilute it with too much water. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on appropriate levels of coolant mix.
There are many highly rated brands of coolant. Whether you pick up pre-mixed liquid or pure antifreeze to mix with water, compare prices and customer ratings for a quality product.
Check the Antifreeze Level in Your Coolant Mix
You can identify the level of antifreeze in the reservoir to ensure it’s properly diluted. Too much water can cause the mixture to freeze or boil in extreme operating conditions. Too little water could damage your engine.
An antifreeze tester is a handy tool to check levels before winter. Periodically use this tool to verify that the mixture in your radiator and reservoir has the proper levels of coolant and water. If the level isn’t correct, consider correcting it or draining, flushing and refilling it.
Prepare for Winter With Updated Car Coolant
Your car’s coolant is only one area of winterization to take on before your next cold weather driving situation. Explore more tips on driving and staying safe in winter weather. Ensure your car is protected and starts safely, no matter the outdoor temperature
