DRIVERS have been urged to nab a cheap essential that can help make their car stay warmer as temperatures plummet.
Best of all, the little-known solution can cost as little as 60p.
Antifreeze has been lauded as a cheap and easy way to keep your motor warm[/caption]
As the cold snap continues to bite, motorists are keen to keep their car’s interiors as toasty as possible.
Car experts at the AA have explained why the costly item is so essential for drivers.
Antifreeze is a glycol-based liquid that drivers can easily add to their vehicle’s cooling system.
It stops the water from freezing under normal cold weather conditions.
Antifreeze also includes various additives that provide additional benefits, such as corrosion inhibition, pH balancing, and anti-foaming properties.
As well as lowering the freezing point, antifreeze also raises the boiling point of engine coolant.
Better still, it can be found for a relatively low price – with some products coming in as low as 60p – and we were able to find K2 Kuler Radiator Coolant Antifreeze for the low price of £1.44 for a 1-litre bottle.
Making sure your car’s antifreeze levels are topped up can even help improve fuel economy, by helping your car run at an optimal temperature.
To top up a car engine’s coolant, it’s simply a case of opening the reservoir cap – be careful the engine is not too hot and make sure to use a cloth wrapped around the cap to open it – and add it to the fluid level.
“Modern car cooling systems are smaller, with higher operating temperatures and pressures than in the past,” the experts said.
“That means it’s especially important to use the correct additive.
“If you don’t use antifreeze, your car’s engine and other components could suffer serious damage if the water freezes or overheats.
“Water expands as it freezes, which can split radiators, pipes and water pumps or even break engine casings.
“This vital liquid helps your engine in other ways too.
“It prevents scale building up and protects against corrosion, helping to keep your car’s cooling system healthy.
“If you don’t know what type of antifreeze is in your vehicle, it’s not easy to identify it without sophisticated tests.
“The colour of the antifreeze isn’t proof of the type or quality of product that was used.
“If you’re worried you’ve used the wrong type of antifreeze, it’s best to take it to a professional mechanic who’ll drain and flush the system.
“Antifreeze is a hazardous substance, so you should never attempt this yourself.
“Once it’s empty, it can be refilled with the recommended type of antifreeze at the correct dilution level.”
What’s the difference between antifreeze and coolant?
Antifreeze and coolant are similar, but not exactly the same.
Antifreeze is a concentrated product, normally based on glycol and containing inhibitors.
Some types of antifreeze are required to be diluted with water at a suitable concentration before you use it.
Once the antifreeze is diluted with water – usually 50/50 – it becomes coolant.
Source: The AA
