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Understanding Your Vehicle’s Fluids - Engine Coolant - Car Talk - Nairaland

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Don't Top-up Your Radiator With Water. Use Engine Coolant / Five Fluids You Should Check To Keep Your Car Running Smoothly / 3 Essential Fluids Your Vehicle Cannot Go Without (2) (3) (4)

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Understanding Your Vehicle’s Fluids - Engine Coolant by CastroLubeNg: 4:26pm On Sep 30, 2016
Without the vital fluids for your Car, the Car would not start. And, even if you did get it started, it would not run for long before
the engine and transmission would self destruct. Even if the powertrain operated long enough to get you underway, you would soon discover
there was no way to bring the vehicle to a stop!Bottom line? The fuel, oil, coolant and other fluids used by your car play a crucial role in your personal safety and your vehicle’s reliability. You should never neglect these liquids nor take them for granted. The best way to make sure vital fluids receive the attention they deserve is to educate yourself and perform some basic checks on a regular basis. When it comes to these liquids, incorrect products, improper maintenance, and inadequate levels can lead to serious problems.

Engine coolant (sometimes called anti-freeze) prevents freeze-up in winter, fights overheating in summer, lubricates the water pump seals,
and protects the cooling system from rust and corrosion year round. Today’s vehicles employ three types of coolant technologies:
• Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) is traditional green-colored coolant. This coolant provides fast-acting corrosion protection, but its additives deplete quickly so corrosion can result if the coolant is not changed regularly. IAT coolant is used in older vehicles and a declining number of newer vehicles.
• Organic Acid Technology (OAT) coolants are typically red or orange, but may also be purple or yellow. They offer long-life corrosion protection but are not compatible with other types of coolant. These coolants are used in newer General Motors vehicles and some imports.
• Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) coolants are typically yellow or orange. They combine the benefits of IAT and OAT for a very protective and long-life coolant, and are used in newer Ford and Chrysler vehicles and some imports.
Using the proper coolant in your vehicle is vital to long engine life, but color is not an accurate indicator of coolant type. In fact, two models
from the same year and manufacturer may require different coolants. Consult your owner’s manual for details on the coolant type used in
your car, and be sure to use that formulation when servicing the cooling system. Do not mix different types of coolants.

Coolant Change Intervals
Engine coolants never lose their “permanent” antifreeze capability, but their protective additives are depleted over time. This means the
coolant must be changed periodically, but how often depends on the coolant type. Traditional IAT green coolants should be changed every
two years or 24,000 miles, while OAT coolants only need to be replaced on an average of every five years or 50,000 miles. HOAT coolants are the longest lived, with some manufacturers not calling for replacement until 80,000 miles or more. Again, consult your owner’s manual to determine the required service interval for your vehicle.

Checking Coolant
Cooling systems occasionally need topping up due to fluid loss from evaporation. However, having to add coolant frequently may indicate an
external leak in the cooling system or an internal leak in the engine that should to be investigated by a qualified technician.
• Check the engine coolant with the vehicle is parked on a level surface and the engine cold and not running.
• Most cars today have a translucent plastic coolant reservoir with molded-in HOT and COLD (or similar) markings that makes it easy to visually check the coolant level. With the engine cold, the level should be at or above the COLD (lower) mark on the tank. If not, top it up to that level with a 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant.
• A reservoir check is generally sufficient to ensure a proper level of coolant in the system. However, if the reservoir was dry or there have been recent indications of unusual engine temperatures, you should also check the coolant level in the radiator.
NOTE: Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot; the system is under pressure, hot coolant will be expelled and severe burns could result!
• Remove the radiator cap and inspect the coolant level. In a modern sealed system the radiator should be completely filled. If it is not, top it up with a 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant. If the radiator level is low, but there was coolant in the reservoir, the radiator cap may be defective and should be tested by a qualified repair shop. In a properly maintained cooling system, the coolant will retain most of
its original color over time. Coolant that becomes dirty and discolored, or shows traces of rust, should be replaced. The most accurate indication of coolant condition is acid content, which can be checked using simple test strips available at most auto parts stores. At least once a
year, preferably before the onset of winter, the coolant should be checked to determine its level of antifreeze protection.

Get the best coolant for your Car today! Castrol Rocks.

For details, call 08030509254

Re: Understanding Your Vehicle’s Fluids - Engine Coolant by geovidal(m): 6:41pm On Sep 30, 2016
CastroLubeNg:
Without the vital fluids for your Car, the Car would not start. And, even if you did get it started, it would not run for long before
the engine and transmission would self destruct. Even if the powertrain operated long enough to get you underway, you would soon discover
there was no way to bring the vehicle to a stop!Bottom line? The fuel, oil, coolant and other fluids used by your car play a crucial role in your personal safety and your vehicle’s reliability. You should never neglect these liquids nor take them for granted. The best way to make sure vital fluids receive the attention they deserve is to educate yourself and perform some basic checks on a regular basis. When it comes to these liquids, incorrect products, improper maintenance, and inadequate levels can lead to serious problems.

Engine coolant (sometimes called anti-freeze) prevents freeze-up in winter, fights overheating in summer, lubricates the water pump seals,
and protects the cooling system from rust and corrosion year round. Today’s vehicles employ three types of coolant technologies:
• Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) is traditional green-colored coolant. This coolant provides fast-acting corrosion protection, but its additives deplete quickly so corrosion can result if the coolant is not changed regularly. IAT coolant is used in older vehicles and a declining number of newer vehicles.
• Organic Acid Technology (OAT) coolants are typically red or orange, but may also be purple or yellow. They offer long-life corrosion protection but are not compatible with other types of coolant. These coolants are used in newer General Motors vehicles and some imports.
• Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) coolants are typically yellow or orange. They combine the benefits of IAT and OAT for a very protective and long-life coolant, and are used in newer Ford and Chrysler vehicles and some imports.
Using the proper coolant in your vehicle is vital to long engine life, but color is not an accurate indicator of coolant type. In fact, two models
from the same year and manufacturer may require different coolants. Consult your owner’s manual for details on the coolant type used in
your car, and be sure to use that formulation when servicing the cooling system. Do not mix different types of coolants.

Coolant Change Intervals
Engine coolants never lose their “permanent” antifreeze capability, but their protective additives are depleted over time. This means the
coolant must be changed periodically, but how often depends on the coolant type. Traditional IAT green coolants should be changed every
two years or 24,000 miles, while OAT coolants only need to be replaced on an average of every five years or 50,000 miles. HOAT coolants are the longest lived, with some manufacturers not calling for replacement until 80,000 miles or more. Again, consult your owner’s manual to determine the required service interval for your vehicle.

Checking Coolant
Cooling systems occasionally need topping up due to fluid loss from evaporation. However, having to add coolant frequently may indicate an
external leak in the cooling system or an internal leak in the engine that should to be investigated by a qualified technician.
• Check the engine coolant with the vehicle is parked on a level surface and the engine cold and not running.
• Most cars today have a translucent plastic coolant reservoir with molded-in HOT and COLD (or similar) markings that makes it easy to visually check the coolant level. With the engine cold, the level should be at or above the COLD (lower) mark on the tank. If not, top it up to that level with a 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant.
• A reservoir check is generally sufficient to ensure a proper level of coolant in the system. However, if the reservoir was dry or there have been recent indications of unusual engine temperatures, you should also check the coolant level in the radiator.
NOTE: Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot; the system is under pressure, hot coolant will be expelled and severe burns could result!
• Remove the radiator cap and inspect the coolant level. In a modern sealed system the radiator should be completely filled. If it is not, top it up with a 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant. If the radiator level is low, but there was coolant in the reservoir, the radiator cap may be defective and should be tested by a qualified repair shop. In a properly maintained cooling system, the coolant will retain most of
its original color over time. Coolant that becomes dirty and discolored, or shows traces of rust, should be replaced. The most accurate indication of coolant condition is acid content, which can be checked using simple test strips available at most auto parts stores. At least once a
year, preferably before the onset of winter, the coolant should be checked to determine its level of antifreeze protection.

Get the best coolant for your Car today! Castrol Rocks.

For details, call 08030509254
Pls which coolant is best for Toyota corolla sport 04

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