The radiator plays a very important role in every car. It is a kind of heat exchanger that allows the vehicle engine to be cooled. In order to operate efficiently, it must have a coolant that is designed to effectively lower the temperature of the running engine.
There are many ready-made coolants and concentrates on the market. They differ in that the cooling concentrate requires proper dilution in distilled water. The liquids, in turn, are ready for use immediately after purchase. So what to choose?
Cooling liquid – concentrate
The coolant consists primarily of glycol, which, when mixed with distilled water and other chemicals, acts as an engine cooling medium. When buying a finished product, we can use it immediately, without the need to dilute or mix.
The refrigerant concentrate, in turn, is monoethylene or propylene glycol itself, enriched with anti-corrosion additives, among others. After adding an appropriate amount of distilled water to the concentrate, we obtain a cooling fluid. It should be remembered that the key is to properly adjust the ratio of concentrate and water so that the resulting fluid is an effective engine coolant.
Coolant or concentrate?
Taking into account the fact that we have to keep the right proportions of water and concentrate to obtain a high-quality coolant, a better solution is to buy a ready-made radiator fluid. When considering what to choose – coolant or concentrate, we must also take into account the need to thoroughly mix both components if we want to make the coolant from the concentrate.
Ready radiator fluids have a homogeneous structure that allows for effective engine cooling and prevents the formation of the so-called. water jams, i.e. places where the concentrate has not been thoroughly mixed with water. When choosing a concentrate, the proportion in which you mix the preparation with distilled water is also important. This has a direct impact on the freezing point, which can be as low as -35 degrees when combined with the right amount of water.
When choosing between radiator fluid and concentrate, it is much easier to buy the finished product. We will avoid problems resulting from incorrect mixing of concentrate and water, or the formation of a heterogeneous fluid structure. This solution will be especially helpful for people who do not have much experience in the automotive industry.