Drinking substandard antifreeze indiscriminately is simply ruining your car!

发布时间：2022年03月14日 15:30

When it comes to car maintenance, most people tend to focus on consumables such as engine oil, spark plugs, and tires—yet few pay sufficient attention to antifreeze. Proper, high-quality antifreeze boasts functions including corrosion prevention, rust inhibition, scale prevention, and boil-over protection. By contrast, substandard antifreeze is typically made from industrial methanol, recycled ethylene glycol, low-grade ethylene glycol, and even diluted with tap water. Such antifreeze is prone to producing impurities and inorganic salts, and it’s highly corrosive. This can lead to corrosion of the vehicle’s cooling system, loosening of the water pump impeller, and ultimately, complete failure of the cooling system, rendering it unable to function properly and causing severe damage to the engine. However, the quality of antifreeze available on the market varies widely, and there are still many...

　　When it comes to car maintenance, most people tend to focus on consumables such as engine oil, spark plugs, and tires—yet few pay sufficient attention to antifreeze. Proper, high-quality antifreeze boasts functions including corrosion prevention, rust inhibition, scale prevention, and boil-over protection. By contrast, substandard antifreeze is typically made from industrial methanol, recycled ethylene glycol, low-grade ethylene glycol, and even tap water mixed together. Such antifreeze is prone to producing impurities and inorganic salts, and it’s highly corrosive. This can lead to corrosion of the vehicle’s cooling system, loosening of the water pump impeller, and ultimately, complete failure of the cooling system, rendering it unable to function properly and causing severe damage to the engine. However, the quality of antifreeze available on the market varies widely, and many substandard products are still circulating. Fake antifreeze not only fails to protect your vehicle—it can also cause serious problems.

　　Fault phenomenon: Upon inspection, it was found that the engine cylinder liner had pitting corrosion, the cylinder liner support shoulder was cracked, and the sealing ring on the outside of the cylinder liner had broken. Fault analysis:

　　Due to cracking in the cylinder liner, during engine operation, some high-temperature gases and diesel fuel can leak into the cooling system through this crack. The external symptoms include air bubbles appearing in the auxiliary coolant tank and diesel fuel mixing with the coolant; additionally, the water temperature gauge will rise accordingly. Engine failures caused by prolonged failure to replace antifreeze or by using low-quality antifreeze are quite common.

　　The hazards of low-quality coolant: Crystalline deposits formed during the use of substandard antifreeze can cause blockages in the heater core. In extreme cases, this may reduce the radiator's cooling capacity, leading to higher water temperatures, engine overheating, and even "boiling" of the coolant. In severe instances, this can trigger traffic accidents and result in tragic consequences.

　　Antifreeze has a limited lifespan and must be replaced when it expires. After prolonged use, the freezing point of antifreeze gradually rises. If exposed to extremely low temperatures, it could freeze, and once frozen, it could lead to significant economic losses. In addition to its antifreeze function, antifreeze also protects metal components from corrosion. If left unchanged for an extended period, antifreeze’s protective ability against metal components will diminish, potentially causing pitting corrosion in those metal parts.

　　When selecting a coolant, the choice depends on the local temperature levels. Since different engine antifreeze formulations have varying compositions and proportions, their freezing points also differ. Consumers should select the appropriate product specifications and models based on the local temperature conditions. Generally, the freezing point of engine antifreeze should be 10 to 15°C lower than the lowest local temperature to prevent it from losing effectiveness.

　　Observe the liquid’s state and color. When selecting a product, consumers should pay attention to its appearance: if the liquid is free of sediment and suspended particles and appears clear and transparent, it indicates that the additives in the product are stable. A striking color can also help easily identify leak points in the engine coolant in case of a leak.

　　Antifreeze is odorless. If you detect unusual odors such as ammonia or alcohol, it indicates that abnormal additives have been added.

　　Do not use water as a cooling medium. The boiling point of water no longer meets the requirements of the engine cooling system, and scale formed by tap water during use can severely impair heat dissipation performance.

　　Different brands must not be mixed. Coolant products from different brands should not be mixed. For different models within the same brand, you may consult the relevant sales personnel before using them appropriately.

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