Antifreeze & Coolant

What does Antifreeze Coolant do and which should you use?

Making sure that you've got the correct antifreeze coolant in the right concentration is critical to the health and well-being of your engine.

The coolant capacity of modern systems is smaller and the operating temperatures and pressures higher, while greater use of lightweight materials such as aluminium increases the risk of corrosion.

As a rule of thumb, only about 28% of the thermal energy released by burning fuel in the engine is available for driving the car.

• About 7% is used to overcome friction in the engine, drive train, tires etc.
• Another 35% disappears out of the exhaust, and
• The remaining 30% has to be removed by the antifreeze coolant or the engine block would go into melt down.

Engines are constructed from several different metals and it's important to prevent corrosion and scale build up in the cooling system at normal operating temperatures. Around 60% of engine failures can be attributed to cooling system problems.

Antifreeze coolant is multi-functional and vital to the correct operation of the engine. A modern antifreeze coolant needs the following features:

• Corrosion prevention
• Excellent heat transfer
• Protection from freezing
• Prevention of scale build up
• Compatibility with hard water
• Stability at high temperature
• Compatibility with plastics and elastomers used in the engine
• Low foaming

Since around 1930 the necessary freeze protection and heat transfer has been provided by mixtures of water and ethylene glycol. This is available in large quantities from the petrochemical industry and has the added advantage of raising the boiling point of the mixture.

More recently propylene glycol has been introduced as a less hazardous alternative to ethylene glycol although this is much more expensive and some manufacturers have been reluctant to use it.

The important recent technical advances have been in the field of corrosion prevention, hard water compatibility and control of scale build up. Engine design has changed to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions as well as reducing weight and costs. These demands have made engine operating conditions even more severe, so that much more is required from the cooling system.

The antifreeze coolant used at first fill is chosen by the vehicle manufacturer as the most suitable. Subsequent service top ups or renewals should use a product meeting the original specification so the vehicle warranty is not affected.

Beyond the warranty period, it is still best to follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation, however the antifreeze coolant used should at least meet minimum specifications such as BS6580:2010 or ASTM D 3306. These are national standards that provide a basic level of performance for cars and light vans.

The concentrate is diluted with water prior to use and to ensure adequate cooling system protection a concentration of between 40% and 50% (by volume) is recommended. It's important to remember that vehicle cooling systems are sealed and, under normal circumstances, should not need topping up. If the coolant level in the radiator expansion tank drops, the cooling system should be checked fully.

Developments in coolants have led to the introduction of Organic Acid Technology (OAT). The corrosion inhibitors in OAT products last much longer in service than those in traditional antifreeze and are usually only changed every 5 years.

In spite of improvements in the quality and life expectancy of the products there are many older vehicles which still use traditional antifreezes and these must be renewed every 20,000 mile or 2 years. These coolants are cheaper than the longer life technologies and, although they do not achieve the same corrosion protection performance at the higher temperatures generated in modern engine cooling systems, they should at least meet recognised national standards e.g. BS6580:2010 or ASTM D3306.

Water quality

Although tremendous progress has been made in improving the performance of modern day antifreeze/coolants there is still one factor that can reduce their effectiveness – the quality of the water used for dilution! High levels of calcium and magnesium in tap water, that cause furring of kettle heater elements, can also lead to deposits and scale build up in the engine cooling system. If you are in a hard water area it is advisable to use distilled or deionised water in the cooling system rather than tap water.

So to insure many long years of service from your vehicle, keep your car's cooling system in tip top shape.

Contact Fifth Gear Automotive to set up an appointment to stop by for a coolant flush and fill with the apropriate antifreeze coolant for your vehicle.

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Time For an Oil Change

How Important is an Oil Change?

An oil and filter change involves draining out the old motor oil and replacing it with fresh, new motor oil. The oil filter also gets replaced at the same time.

Should I get an oil change when it's recommended?

In general, yes. Changing your vehicle's oil is one of the most important things you can do to avoid bringing large bags of money to your mechanic later on.

However, there's a lot of controversy about exactly when engine oil gets old and how often it should be replaced with new oil. Because there are many factors at work — how you drive, the condition and age of the engine, the external environment you drive in, and stop-and-go versus highway driving — it's an inexact science. Owner's manual recommendations for when to get an oil change vary from 3,000 to 10,000 miles.

We recommend that you get an oil change every 5,000 miles. That's our best estimate. It may be too soon for many people and too late for a few, but for the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age.

You may want to consider getting an oil change more frequently if:

• You drive like a knucklehead: jackrabbit starts, heavy acceleration or high-speed driving
• You live where the climate is extremely hot or cold
• You often drive on dirt roads
• Your engine is old and burns oil
• You frequently carry heavy loads (several mothers-in-law or other cargo)

Why do I have to do this?

Oil undergoes thermal breakdown due to high operating temperature. When this occurs, the oil becomes less effective as a lubricant. And without a good lubricant (read: expensive), parts of the engine rub together and wear each other out.

Oil also contains additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. Over time, these additives get used up and stop being effective.

Finally, oil can absorb water, dust and combustion byproducts and also hold them in suspension. Eventually, the oil gets saturated with this stuff and can't absorb any more. Then that stuff remains in the engine and can cause corrosion.

What happens if I don't do this?

Your engine won't last as long as it could. Oil serves many crucial functions, and clean oil performs those functions better than dirty oil. Oil is relatively cheap, and changing your oil every 5,000 miles is a very cheap insurance policy against major repairs down the road.

Is there any maintenance required between intervals?

Yes, you need to check the oil level every few hundred miles. With your car parked on a level surface, remove the oil dipstick, clean it on your brother's best shirt and then reinsert it. Remove it again, and check the oil level.

Ideally, it should be right at the full mark. If it's at or below the add mark, that means you're a quart low and should add a quart of oil to the crankcase. If it's in between the two marks, you can add part of a quart to bring it up to the full mark (the distance between add and full represents a quart, so use that to estimate how much of a quart you need). Be aware, however, that since oil flows slowly when it is cool, the dipstick may not immediately reflect any oil you just added. So estimate the amount of oil you need based on your first dipstick reading, and then check it again later that day or the next day to be sure you're near the full mark.

A word of caution: Be careful not to overfill your car's crankcase with oil. If you put in too much oil, the engine's crankshaft can actually come in contact with the oil. And because the crankshaft is turning at several thousand revolutions per minute, it can quickly whip your oil into a froth — like the steamed milk that sits on the top of a cappuccino. Why is that bad? Well, the oil pump can't pump froth very well, and as a result, it can't get oil to the parts of the engine that need lubrication. The result ... a hefty boat payment to your mechanic.

If you are low on oil, you can add any grade of engine motor oil you like — though we advise you to use the grade of oil recommended in your owner's manual.

If you regularly run low on oil, be sure to report it to your mechanic. You may have a leak or may be burning oil — signs that you might be gearing up for a major boat payment to your mechanic.

Car Talk Tip: At some point, every engine starts to burn oil. Get in the habit of checking the oil from time to time, and you just might avoid having your engine melt down one day.

Oil Change Source Article

Tips to Avoid Costly Auto AC Repair

During the summer, especially in Texas, the auto air conditioner goes from a luxury to a necessity. It would be almost impossible to function in our cars without the air conditioning, especially because the temperatures reach the mid 90 s and 100 s. Therefore, it is extremely important for car owners to make sure their Air Conditioning system is running properly.

There are many auto ac repair shops in the area that do these things, however you want to make sure you go to an auto ac repair shop that specializes in fixing Air Conditioners.

Many people don t want to waste their time or money going to a repair shop a couple times a year; however this small check up can pay dividends in the future. You don t want to be the person who gets stuck with an AC system that completely doesn't work. If you think it is a hassle going to an auto ac repair shop, imagine how annoying it would be to completely have to change your AC system!

There are a few tips one should follow in order to make sure their AC system is working properly. When parking your car, make sure you park in a shaded place so your car is not at an extremely high temperature when you return. If your car is really hot, this will take a lot more energy to cool the car

This will also significantly reduce the miles per gallon your car can handle, because it takes a lot of energy to work the AC. Also, it is important to make sure that your car is clean and dust free, especially near the cabin. This can result in mold and spores, which can damage the AC system.

When washing your car, you can open up the hood and spray water on the AC condenser, which will help spread the dust and dirt. This way, the dust and dirt won't be concentrated in one region.

It is also important not to put the AC level on max when driving fast, because you will not only waste fuel, but not receive adequate amounts of air.

Lastly, you should do routine maintenance a couple times a year to replace some of your car parts that are not working properly. This may be a little costly, but it is worth it when looking at the bigger picture.

There are also a few obvious signs one should make note of that can indicate the AC is not working properly. If your AC is on and nothing blows out, there is definitely a huge problem. You should fix this as soon as possible, because your AC system is also connected to your defroster, which you will use in the wintertime. There may be a problem if the AC blows colder air than expected, because the compressor may be failing.

Also, if your AC does not get as cool as it should, or blows warm air when it should be blowing cool air, you may have a problem with the leaking coolant. There may also be a problem if the AC blows colder air than expected, because the compressor may be failing.

If you also notice that your car is leaking, you may have a problem with the AC. Most cars have UV dye in their system that is neon yellowish green, which can be easily spotted. Some cars also have dye that is clear, which is much harder to notice.

Your car may not be that important to you, but don't let the problems your car may have get worse. It is always important to take care of our belongings, or else we will face other repercussions in the future. When it comes to repairing a car, it is best to put it in the hands of professionals.

So if you’re looking for auto ac repair be sure to come to Fifth Gear Automotive.

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