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Find The Right Coolant For Your Vehicle
Zerex Antifreeze Coolant
![Coolant 101](/cmsstatic/coolant201.jpg)
Coolant 101: What is Coolant and Why Do I Need It?
Your Cooling System is an Essential Part of Your Vehicle
This content originally appeared on TeamValvoline.com
Many drivers understand that their vehicle requires coolant, but some drivers aren’t sure which type to use—or what coolant is in the first place.
Much like oil, coolant serves the basic function of transferring heat and adding antifreeze protection. Depending on your type of vehicle, you may need a coolant with specialized additives, a coolant formulated for specific manufacturers, or a coolant designed for high-mileage cars.
What Does Coolant Do for My Engine?
The primary purpose of coolant is transferring heat and preventing engine damage caused by freezing or boiling. Heat can only be effectively transferred with a liquid in the system, so it’s crucial to keep your coolant from freezing or evaporating.
Additionally, if coolant boils, the vapors formed do not transfer heat well, which means the engine metal can actually melt if the coolant isn’t kept in contact with certain places that need to stay cool. Some modern vehicles are made with tight engine compartments that don’t feature good air flow, which means they could overheat in a matter of minutes without a functional cooling system.
Coolant also serves the purpose of protecting metals and non-metallic elastomers (like rubber and plastic parts) in the engine and the cooling circuit.
This content originally appeared on TeamValvoline.com
Many drivers understand that their vehicle requires coolant, but some drivers aren’t sure which type to use—or what coolant is in the first place.
Much like oil, coolant serves the basic function of transferring heat and adding antifreeze protection. Depending on your type of vehicle, you may need a coolant with specialized additives, a coolant formulated for specific manufacturers, or a coolant designed for high-mileage cars.
What Does Coolant Do for My Engine?
The primary purpose of coolant is transferring heat and preventing engine damage caused by freezing or boiling. Heat can only be effectively transferred with a liquid in the system, so it’s crucial to keep your coolant from freezing or evaporating.
Additionally, if coolant boils, the vapors formed do not transfer heat well, which means the engine metal can actually melt if the coolant isn’t kept in contact with certain places that need to stay cool. Some modern vehicles are made with tight engine compartments that don’t feature good air flow, which means they could overheat in a matter of minutes without a functional cooling system.
Coolant also serves the purpose of protecting metals and non-metallic elastomers (like rubber and plastic parts) in the engine and the cooling circuit.
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![Coolant 102](/cmsstatic/coolant101.jpg)
Coolant 102: How Do I Know Which Coolant to Buy?
Learn About Coolant Formulation and How to Choose the Right Product
This content originally appeared on TeamValvoline.com
Now that you’ve learned about the purpose and importance of coolant for your vehicle with our Coolant 101, it’s time to determine which kind to buy.
When it’s time to change the coolant in your car, always consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for compatibility and warranty information and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) recommended coolant.
Here are some tips to help you better determine the right coolant for your car.
Is There a Specific Kind of Coolant Made for My Vehicle?
The first thing you should do is consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for compatibility and warranty information.
All too often, consumers pick a coolant based on price rather than performance. There are cheaper “universal” coolants available that claim to service any engine, but truth is, specific vehicles from specific manufacturers require a specific coolant formula.
Whatever kind of car or truck you drive, it’s a major investment, which means you’d be wise not to skimp on your coolant. Trying to save a little cash in the short-run could lead to expensive fixes in the long-run if your cooling system fails because you used the wrong type of coolant. Your cooling system is also at risk if you’re using undiluted coolant or pure water.
This content originally appeared on TeamValvoline.com
Now that you’ve learned about the purpose and importance of coolant for your vehicle with our Coolant 101, it’s time to determine which kind to buy.
When it’s time to change the coolant in your car, always consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for compatibility and warranty information and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) recommended coolant.
Here are some tips to help you better determine the right coolant for your car.
Is There a Specific Kind of Coolant Made for My Vehicle?
The first thing you should do is consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for compatibility and warranty information.
All too often, consumers pick a coolant based on price rather than performance. There are cheaper “universal” coolants available that claim to service any engine, but truth is, specific vehicles from specific manufacturers require a specific coolant formula.
Whatever kind of car or truck you drive, it’s a major investment, which means you’d be wise not to skimp on your coolant. Trying to save a little cash in the short-run could lead to expensive fixes in the long-run if your cooling system fails because you used the wrong type of coolant. Your cooling system is also at risk if you’re using undiluted coolant or pure water.
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![Approximately 90 percent of concentrated coolant's makeup is ethylene glycol along with a balance of additives such as corrosion inhibitors, pm modifiers, scale inhibitors, buffers, dye, defoamers, and bittering agents](/cmsstatic/coolant301.jpg)
What Are the Key Ingredients in Coolant?
Ethylene Glycol has been the industry standard for more than 70 years, and it makes up about 90 percent of a concentrated coolant.
Silicate is an excellent corrosion inhibitor, and it’s one of the best additives used in coolant since it works on all the metals of a cooling system. It’s very effective on aluminum, which is what most engines and cooling systems are made of today. Most manufacturers use silicate in their antifreeze, though many Asian manufacturers (particularly in Japan) use silicate-free coolant.
What Color Should My Coolant Be?
Coolant comes in a variety of colors, often based on the level and type of protection offered.
Basic coolant is typically green, whereas more advanced coolants include hues of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple—the whole rainbow, essentially. Each color is designed to keep specific types of vehicles operating optimally by preventing overheating.
Keep in mind, though: If your car is still under warranty, make sure you stick to the same color of coolant. Don’t replace a particular color of advanced coolant with a different color, whether it’s advanced or universal.
What Mixture of Coolant and Water Works Best?
As coolant technology has evolved, so have the recommendations for the coolant/water mixture balance.
Previously, coolant manufacturers recommended an even balance of 50 percent coolant, 50 percent water for radiators. Nowadays, the amount of coolant recommended ranges from 40 percent to 70 percent.
A larger percentage of coolant will protect radiators and coolant systems all the way down to -84 degrees Fahrenheit, but unless you’re driving in extremely cold temperatures, you can go as low as 40 percent coolant. The tried-and-true 50/50 balance will have you covered all the way down to -34 degrees Fahrenheit as well.
See which coolant is right for your vehicle with our Valvoline Product Finder.
If you choose wisely when it comes to your coolant, your car will continue to operate at peak efficiency.
Ethylene Glycol has been the industry standard for more than 70 years, and it makes up about 90 percent of a concentrated coolant.
Silicate is an excellent corrosion inhibitor, and it’s one of the best additives used in coolant since it works on all the metals of a cooling system. It’s very effective on aluminum, which is what most engines and cooling systems are made of today. Most manufacturers use silicate in their antifreeze, though many Asian manufacturers (particularly in Japan) use silicate-free coolant.
What Color Should My Coolant Be?
Coolant comes in a variety of colors, often based on the level and type of protection offered.
Basic coolant is typically green, whereas more advanced coolants include hues of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple—the whole rainbow, essentially. Each color is designed to keep specific types of vehicles operating optimally by preventing overheating.
Keep in mind, though: If your car is still under warranty, make sure you stick to the same color of coolant. Don’t replace a particular color of advanced coolant with a different color, whether it’s advanced or universal.
What Mixture of Coolant and Water Works Best?
As coolant technology has evolved, so have the recommendations for the coolant/water mixture balance.
Previously, coolant manufacturers recommended an even balance of 50 percent coolant, 50 percent water for radiators. Nowadays, the amount of coolant recommended ranges from 40 percent to 70 percent.
A larger percentage of coolant will protect radiators and coolant systems all the way down to -84 degrees Fahrenheit, but unless you’re driving in extremely cold temperatures, you can go as low as 40 percent coolant. The tried-and-true 50/50 balance will have you covered all the way down to -34 degrees Fahrenheit as well.
See which coolant is right for your vehicle with our Valvoline Product Finder.
If you choose wisely when it comes to your coolant, your car will continue to operate at peak efficiency.
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