Foreword
A fuel vehicle with a complete structure and normal function, the whole car is filled with a variety of liquids, such as lubricating the engine oil in the engine body, lubricating the transmission oil of the gearbox, the fuel hidden in the fuel tank and eventually being burned, the refrigerant refrigerant in the air conditioning pipeline, the refrigerant oil of the air conditioner, the brake fluid, the power steering system oil, the glass water used to clean the front windshield, etc. As car owners, we are often taught to change the oil after running for a certain amount of time or mileage, and to refill the glass water from time to time; In fact, there is such a miracle liquid that contributes to the normal operation of the engine, and it isAntifreeze coolant
Antifreeze coolant, as the name suggests, sounds like an oxymoronical word to both protect against freeze and cool down. The word "freeze protection" seems to be used in extremely cold weather, while the word "cooling" sounds like the need to cool down in a hot environmentAntifreeze coolingThis means that the liquid can be used both in cold environments and in hot conditions to fulfill its cooling function.
1. Antifreeze coolant comes from the need for engine heat dissipation
The fuel vehicle power system is a complex structural system, which integrates generators, air conditioning compressors and other components on the engine body, and the engine body structure is usually aluminum or steel, and the oil is violently burned in the cylinder body, which will produce a large amount of heat accumulation, and the waste heat dissipation is not enough to take away enough heat, in order to keep the engine block from deformation, the cabin temperature should be controlled below the maximum withstand temperature of the material, which requires a special design of a specific heat dissipation system to take away the excess heat of the engine. Generally speaking, the heat dissipation system of fuel vehicles consists of five parts: water tank, engine water pump, cooling fan, heat dissipation grille, and antifreeze coolant. When the engine is running, the water pump will also run, the water pump will continue to draw antifreeze coolant from the water tank into the engine body of a specific path through the pipeline, the temperature of the antifreeze coolant through the engine body is extremely high, and the pressure of the water pump is transmitted to the heat dissipation grille, the heat dissipation grille will directly receive the intake cold air from the outside to blow in, and the synchronous rotation of the fan heat fan will further increase the suction, even if the vehicle is in the static idle state, the antifreeze cold liquid on the heat dissipation grille can also obtain low temperature air to blow through the heat, In this way, the antifreeze coolant enters the engine body again through the water pump and circulates indefinitely, which is the principle of heat dissipation of fuel vehicle engines.
If the heat dissipation of the engine is not strong, a yellow or even red icon will be generated on the dashboard of the engine high temperature warning, and in serious cases, you can even smell the burning smell of plastic and other parts due to the high temperature of the engine compartment through the external circulation of the air conditioner in the cockpit.
2. Analysis of performance parameters of antifreeze coolant
Everyone must be curious, water is usually a flowing liquid, and it also has the function of heat dissipation, why not directly act as a heat dissipation medium and need to be specially adjusted out of antifreeze coolant such a liquid? Anyone who has attended junior high school physics knows that the freezing point of water is 0 °C and the boiling point is 100 °C, while in the winter in the vast northern part of China, minus 20 or 30 degrees Celsius is the norm. The high temperature of the engine can reach above 100°, and the water will vaporize when it exceeds 100°, whether it is low-temperature curing or high-temperature gasification, which will hinder the circulation of liquid. As a result, humans have produced specific antifreeze coolants that act as a medium of flowing heat. For example, the antifreeze coolant produced by the oil giant Total can remain liquid in a low temperature environment above -45°C and a liquid state in a high temperature environment below 130°C, which means that the performance of the special antifreeze coolant far exceeds that of ordinary purified water.
The main formulation of antifreeze coolant is by adding a substance called OAT, the chemical name is ethylene glycol, and adding some colored fluorescent substances.
In addition to cooling the engine efficiently, this liquid also has the function of preventing rust in the pipes and preventing the formation of limescale deposits, and in general, it is recommended that the owner completely replace it every 3 years or after 50,000 km. Even if it is not replaced for a long time, there is no obvious leakage of the pipeline system, and the antifreeze coolant will gradually decrease over time, if it is found that the liquid level is lower than the min scale line in the water tank of the antifreeze coolant, it should be added to the interval below the max above the min scale line, and it is necessary for the owner to keep a bottle of antifreeze coolant for the items in the car to replenish at any time.
3. Steps for adding antifreeze coolant
Open the water tank cover at room temperature, and do not open it if the engine temperature is too high to avoid splashing burns.
Pour an appropriate amount of antifreeze into the water tank, located in the interval below the max above the min scale.
Start the engine, idle for 5-10 minutes, replenish the coolant appropriately, then tighten the water tank cover, check whether the water temperature is normal, whether there is any leakage, and replace it.
4. Precautions and common problems in the use of antifreeze coolant
There are many colors of antifreeze available in the market, such as green, orange, blue, red, and many more. The antifreeze itself is a colorless and transparent liquid, and the reason why it is made into a bright color is because of the addition of colorants, one reason is to facilitate leak inspection, when the vehicle is suspected of leaking in the cooling system, the antifreeze can be easily identified according to the color of the leakage liquid and the cooling system can be overhauled, and the other function is to avoid being eaten as water. Therefore, the color of antifreeze is not necessarily related to its performance and qualityWhen it comes to choosing a product, color is not one of the criteria for selection.
Most of the antifreeze on the market is of the water-based glycol type, and this type of antifreeze can be mixed,And it has nothing to do with color。However, some types of antifreeze may use different main raw materials or use different additives, and it is generally avoided to add different brands of antifreeze at the same time to avoid possible chemical reactions or adverse effects. If the vehicle's original antifreeze that has been used for a period of time has been drained, it is okay to re-add a new antifreeze of a different brand.
Replacing antifreeze is also an important item in the daily maintenance of the vehicleIt is recommended to replace the antifreeze every three years for the longest timeIt is conducive to the protection of the engine cooling system, because the antifreeze is easy to deteriorate after a long time, resulting in oxidation and corrosion of metal parts, reducing the heat dissipation effect of the engine, and causing the engine to overheat. In addition, the anti-freeze and anti-scale effects will be worse. It's okay to change it every year.
The antifreeze itself contains deionized water, and for new purchases, it is recommended to use it right out of the box without dilutionDilution is not recommended。Even if diluted, distilled or purified water should be added, and the freezing point of the antifreeze will be affected accordingly, and other properties will be slightly reduced. The addition of water in different proportions has a great effect on the freezing point of antifreeze and can be appropriately diluted according to local temperature conditions. If the amount of antifreeze is insufficient due to leakage or evaporation during use, tap water can be added in case of emergency, but if possible, the same type of antifreeze should be replenished or distilled water should be added as much as possible.
My car has always chosen to use antifreeze coolant from the American Beston brand.