An Ultimate Guide To Engine Coolants

Causes of Engine Overheating:

• A leaking cooling system

• An appropriate amount of coolant isnt used

• A broken or clogged water pump

• Improper working of the radiator 

• Having too little oil for lubrication

• A malfunctioning thermostat

• Broken hoses and frayed belts

• Clogging or blocking of the heater core

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Now that we know a little about the major causes of car overheating, we see the most prominent ones being problems with the engine coolant. So this should be enough to prove that the engine coolant is an essential part of the smooth functioning of a car. 

What is An Engine Coolant?

An engine coolant is essentially a special liquid or fluid which is circulated throughout the engine to prevent it from exceeding its temperature requirements i.e. preventing overheating.

An engine coolant is also known as antifreeze since it has a high boiling point and a low freezing point and can retain its normal temperature for a long time, therefore, it is used to lower the temperature of the engine while the car is switched on. An engine coolant can be made from a variety of liquids some of which are Ethylene Glycol, Propylene, Water, etc. 

According to standard guidelines, a coolant should be changed after the first 60000 miles and then after every 30000 miles or at most, two years. The coolant should be changed in regular intervals due to its property of becoming acidic over time while losing its property of rust-inhibition which causes corrosion.

This corrosion can easily damage the radiator, thermostat, water pump, hoses, radiator cap, and many other parts of your engine, even its cooling, and heating system causing the car to overheat, leading to some expensive damage. 

Types of Engine Coolants:

There are mainly three types of engine coolants which are given below:

Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT)

These types of coolants are generally used in older cars and are to be changed more frequently, at 24000 miles. It is made of corrosion inhibiting chemicals with the traditional chemistries. 

Organic Acid Technology (OAT)

These types of coolants are generally used in modern cars and as the name suggests, they are organic. These generally last longer than the IAT Coolant but are not as effective in the prevention of corrosion. 

Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT)

These types of coolants can be regarded as the best of both worlds, and again as per their name, they are a mixture of inorganic and organic coolants, thus incorporating both of their benefits to put forth the best type of coolant.

To explain, HOAT Coolants have the long-lasting nature of the organic coolants mixed with the rust-inhibiting properties of inorganic coolants. Therefore, this is the most prominent coolant technology which can be used in a car.