Engine coolant, along with oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, wiper fluid, water and of course fuel, is one of the vital fluids that any driver needs to have in their engine whenever they drive any considerable distance. Coolant is often ignored and forgotten because it is part of the green fluid that sits in a reservoir next to your radiator and which prevents your engine from freezing up in winter. However at all other times it is helping to keep your engine cool and avoid the myriad problems associated with overheating. The job that coolant does in your engine is to raise the boiling point in the radiator water, drawing heat away from the engine and improving performance. Without it, you will be spending lots of money on repairs.
Checking the coolant level is the work of a few moments. In any modern car, the coolant tank is situated right next to the radiator. It is usually made of an opaque white plastic, but the reservoir is thin enough to allow you to see if you have enough in there. It is marked with low and high points showing how much is too little and how much is too much. Checking this should always be done when the engine is cold, as it may require a close look – hazardous when an engine is at running temperature. If the level is below or near to the “low” line then it should be topped up immediately. If you have the time to spare and it is somewhere in the middle, topping up to a level below the “high” line can do no harm. Otherwise, all is well and you need do no more.
The reservoir should be filled with a mixture of one part coolant to one part water. You can buy coolant separately and make the mixture yourself, and save a dollar or more. However, the hassle involved in making the mixture really isn’t worth a dollar. It is a toxic chemical and the procedure can become messy, and the mixture either water- or coolant-heavy. Spend the extra cash for a pre-mixed coolant and water mixture that will serve you well in the long run, and may well even save money when spillages are taken into account.
Now you have the coolant and you know where it is going. To complete the process it is a simple matter of removing the cap of the reservoir and adding the mixture up to the “high” level. Screw the top back on tightly and there you go – the job is done. It is however worth having one more word of warning on the issue of engine coolant. The chemical is highly toxic to humans or animals, but as most humans can read they are aware of this fact. Animals, however, know only that coolant smells and tastes sweet and are likely to give it a try if they find any spilt on the ground. This is highly likely to be fatal, so if you spill coolant or coolant mixture, please wipe it up thoroughly, whether or not you have pets.
