What Causes Rapid Consumption of Antifreeze?

[LondonLynn]

Rapid antifreeze consumption is generally caused by the following three reasons: 1. Radiator damage: Poor sealing of the upper and lower water chambers leads to antifreeze leakage. 2. Overflow tank: Loose connections at the water pump interface and cooling system pipe joints result in poor sealing and antifreeze leakage. 3. Cylinder head gasket damage: Excessive flatness deviation, warping of the cylinder head and block mating surfaces, or loose cylinder head fastening bolts allow high-temperature, high-pressure gases from the cylinders to enter the cooling system, causing rapid coolant consumption. Additional information about antifreeze: The full name of antifreeze should be antifreeze coolant, meaning it is a coolant with antifreeze properties. Antifreeze prevents the coolant from freezing and cracking the radiator or damaging the engine cylinder block or head when the vehicle is parked in cold winter conditions. Many people think antifreeze is only used in winter, but in fact, it should be used year-round.

[SanJoy]

I've been driving my old Santana for over ten years, and the most common issue with fast coolant consumption is leakage. Aging radiator cracks, water pump seepage, or loose connecting pipes can all cause slow leaks. I once encountered white smoke from the engine in summer, only to find that the coolant had dropped significantly. Another possible reason is internal leakage, such as a damaged cylinder head gasket, where the fluid enters the combustion chamber and gets burned, leading to additional fluid consumption. An overheating cooling system can also cause the fluid to boil and overflow, which may be triggered by a non-functioning fan or a faulty thermostat. Ignoring rapid coolant consumption is very dangerous—it can lead to engine overheating and failure at best, or high-temperature-related accidents at worst. Every time I get my car repaired, I remind fellow drivers that regular system checks and leak fixes are crucial, and not to just top up the fluid without checking the level.