Radiator Fluid

Cars are like humans. The more irate, the higher possibility of irrationality. Here the term 'irate' has been used metaphorically to denote the soaring temperature of the internal combustion engine, if devoid of a suitable coolant. A car engine is nearly as convoluted and extensive as a human mind. Therefore, it could lead to unpredictable car problems if not taken proper care of. The car radiator mitigates most of the temperature-related issues in an engine so that the rest of the processes function smoothly. Subsequently, radiator fluid plays a crucial role in maintaining an optimum environment throughout the internal combustion engine.

Composition of Radiator Fluid

The radiator fluid, or antifreeze, has quite a few applications (HVAC chillers and solar water heaters). But we would be sticking to its application in a car radiator. Radiator fluid consists of 50% of antifreeze and 50% of water. Ethylene or propylene glycol is the key component in all types of antifreeze. It is usually mixed with water so that the car engine doesn't run the risk of collapsing because of abnormal operating temperatures. Also, the additives in the antifreeze have a tendency to clog the system passages and restrict the flow of chemicals and gasoline. Therefore a dilated mixture of water and antifreeze facilitates optimal performance and minimal damage to the engine. The term 'antifreeze' is a misnomer because not only does it keep the freezing point low in the engine, but also elevates the boiling point during extremely hot conditions. The antifreeze is retailed as two variations in the market - unmixed (the additive) and premixed (water + the additive). It should be noted that antifreeze, in its raw form, is highly toxic. It has a sweet smell and attracts children and pets, and should be kept away from them.

How to Change Radiator Fluid

The car engine requires optimum maintenance and this can only be achieved by one of primary steps of changing the radiator fluid regularly. You can take your car to the nearest garage have the mechanic get the radiator flush for you or you can change it all by yourself. If you are planning to do the latter, then follow these simple steps:

• Park your car in a safe area and make sure it is at a safe proximity from kids and pets.
• Open the hood of the car and confirm whether the engine is cool. Touching the engine (which has been just turned off) is highly inadvisable as you run the risk of inflicting yourself with severe burns at the area of skin contact. Make sure that the engine has been idle for the last 15-30 minutes.
• Drain the old antifreeze from your radiator, accompanied with the remaining loose rust and sediments. This can be achieved by opening the drain valve and allowing the fluid to flow out till its empty.
• Pour the new antifreeze in the radiator and if it is unmixed, then don't forget to make the optimum mixture with water.
• Close the radiator cap and the hood and dispose the used antifreeze at a safe place beyond the reach of humans or animals.

Radiator Fluid Leak

One of main reasons behind antifreeze leak is insufficient amount of coolant level. This could be found out by noticing a puddly formation underneath the hood of the car. Radiator fluid color can be easily recognized because of its bright psychedelic green texture and should be cleaned up immediately because of its toxic nature and to avoid antifreeze poisoning. The following steps would give you an overview of how to check radiator fluid which is leaking from your car. The first thing you should do when you find out about leaking radiator fluid is to clean the complete radiator and the pipes with a strong jet of water and start the engine to zero in on the source of leak. Once you find the source (which usually is one of the hoses), apply a commercial radiator sealant which could be availed from any car accessory or hardware store. Once this is done, you have to wait for around two or more hours for the sealant to dry up completely. If it is just a leaking hose, then further radiator leak repair is not necessary, but if this does not solve the problem, then taking it to a mechanic is advisable. The radiator might be subjected to various problems like cracked plastic tanks, fan damage, leaky oil cooler and steam erosion in which the radiator repair cost could vary according to the severity of the damage.

The car, and consequently its engine, is subjected to various anomalies, and the radiator is the foremost shield. Therefore, if the shield is damaged, then the complete protection becomes nullified. Therefore you should take utmost care in changing your car radiator fluid on a regular basis.