What is the function of coolant?
2 Answers
Coolant functions: 1. Coolant prevents scaling: High-quality coolant is made with distilled water and contains anti-scaling additives, which not only prevent scale formation but also have descaling capabilities; 2. Anti-corrosion: Coolant does not cause corrosion to the engine cooling system and also provides anti-corrosion and rust removal functions; 3. Engine antifreeze generally contains substances that lower the freezing point of water as antifreeze agents, ensuring the cooling system does not freeze in cold weather. Coolant consists of three parts: water, antifreeze, and additives. Depending on the antifreeze component, it can be classified into alcohol-based, glycerol-based, ethylene glycol-based, and other types of coolant. Antifreeze is not only for winter use but should be used year-round. In regular car maintenance, the engine antifreeze should be replaced every year.
Once my old Jetta's temperature gauge suddenly shot up to red, and the mechanic gave me a serious lesson: Coolant is not just ordinary water! It acts like the engine's temperature regulator. This hunk of metal can reach several hundred degrees when working, and it relies entirely on the coolant circulating through the pipes to dissipate heat. With a higher boiling point than water, it's less likely to overheat, and with a freezing point dozens of degrees below zero, the radiator won't crack in winter. Even more impressive, it prevents rust and corrosion, protecting the aluminum radiator and iron cylinder block from rotting through. The mechanic also specifically warned me: if the fluid level is low, don't just top it off with tap water or even mineral water—scale can clog the pipes. You must use dedicated coolant.
