Why Does the Car's Antifreeze Keep Decreasing in Summer?
1 Answers
Summer car antifreeze keeps decreasing because the high temperatures in summer cause the antifreeze to expand in volume and leak more easily. Here are the relevant explanations: 1. Main functions: Antifreeze and cooling. One characteristic of antifreeze is its very high boiling point and very low freezing point. This makes it ideal for use in a car's engine. In summer, it primarily serves to cool the engine, while in winter, it mainly prevents freezing. 2. Reasons for decrease: First scenario: Within a normal mileage range, the antifreeze decreases by a small amount. In this case, the reduction is normal. Since the antifreeze is in contact with the engine, when the engine operates, it generates extremely high temperatures, which also raise the antifreeze's temperature, sometimes even causing it to vaporize. Generally, when a liquid's temperature rises or it vaporizes, its volume expands. If this happens in a confined space, the pressure increases. At this point, a pressure relief hole in the antifreeze cap opens, allowing some antifreeze to escape, maintaining appropriate pressure before the hole closes again. In this situation, there's no need to worry. Normal driving is unaffected. Second scenario: The antifreeze decreases very rapidly. Typically, antifreeze decreases faster in summer due to the naturally high temperatures, which make the antifreeze more prone to expansion and leakage. If the antifreeze is found to be decreasing quickly in winter as well, it's advisable to visit a professional 4S shop for inspection. There might be damage to related components causing the antifreeze to leak. If the antifreeze leakage is noticeably fast in summer, it's also a cause for concern. Similarly, an inspection is necessary to identify and address the issue.
