Car Overheating? Is Your Antifreeze To Blame?

Driving around during the hot summer months can be exhausting. The sizzle of skin on hot seats, the sunburn on only one side of your body, and the air conditioning that never seems to keep up with the heat outside. And just when you think you’ve gotten past the worst of it, you notice the temperature gauge in your dashboard is in the red. Car overheating in the summer is common because the coolant in your cooling system is consumable, and it may be time for fresh antifreeze. You may be thinking, “antifreeze in the summer?”, but let me explain…

What is Antifreeze?

The terms ‘antifreeze’ and ‘coolant’ are often used interchangeably when speaking of an engine’s cooling system. However, antifreeze is one component of coolant. It requires dilution with distilled water to create the engine coolant used in combustion engine vehicles. It’s important to note that properly mixed coolant works significantly better than just water or antifreeze does on its own. You can purchase premixed coolant or concentrated antifreeze from most auto parts stores.

How Does Antifreeze Work?

Engineers discovered that ethylene glycol or propylene glycol (the main component of antifreeze) helps regulate engine temperatures way better than water alone. To further protect the internal components, they add different chemicals to enhance performance. These chemical additives don’t last forever. This fluid is a consumable product, meaning it requires periodic maintenance and replacement. When correctly diluted with distilled water (50/50), antifreeze performs several functions in your vehicle’s cooling system.  

• It lowers the freezing temperature of the water in your vehicle’s cooling system. As you know, water expands when it freezes, so without antifreeze, the metal components would crack when the temperature outside gets cold enough. 
• Antifreeze also absorbs heat very well, so as the coolant moves through the engine and into the radiator, the heat releases into the air. This process effectively cools down your engine. 
• The chemical additives in antifreeze prevent foam and air bubbles from forming during circulation. 
• Antifreeze provides essential lubrication to all the engine’s internal parts. 
• Anti-corrosive properties prevent rust and other forms of corrosion from forming on the various metal, plastic, and rubber components in your vehicle’s cooling system.

Does Coolant Prevent Car Overheating?

Coolant definitely helps prevent your car from overheating. Antifreeze works to cool your vehicle’s engine, but it also contains lubricants, anti-foaming agents, and corrosion deterrents. These additives help keep your vehicle’s engine components (ie, radiator, water pump, climate control) properly lubricated and corrosion-free. Without properly diluted antifreeze, you will frequently experience car overheating. 

What Is The Cooling System?

The cooling system is a collection of parts that helps prevent your car overheating. Cooling system failure is a common cause of heat-related breakdowns. Different vehicle designs may vary, but most cars include these basic cooling system components:

• Radiator
• Cooling Fans
• Water Pump
• Hoses, gaskets, seals
• Thermostat
• Drive belts
• Coolant
• Coolant Reservoir

Cooling System Maintenance

By maintaining your car’s cooling system, you can help prevent roadside emergencies and extend the life of your engine. An important part of cooling system maintenance is a radiator flush. A service technician will flush out the old coolant and refill the system with fresh fluid. Refer to your owner’s manual for the factory-recommended radiator flush service schedule.

Check Coolant Levels

When your engine overheats, it can leave you stranded on the road until your car cools down. Chronic overheating can also cause damage to your vehicle’s engine. You can help prevent your car overheating by maintaining the proper coolant levels. Open your hood and find the semitransparent coolant reservoir or overflow tank. It should have measurement lines or markings on the outside. The coolant levels should be above the halfway mark.

Add Fresh Coolant

If the coolant levels are below the halfway mark, add more correctly diluted antifreeze solution right away. Remember, the concentrated antifreeze requires you to add an equal amount of distilled water. So, if you add 1 quart of antifreeze, you must also add 1 quart of water. It’s best to mix the solution in a clean bucket or other container and then add the mixture to the reservoir tank. If you have the premixed coolant, you can add it directly to your overflow coolant tank without adding additional water, since it is already diluted.

Use The Correct Formula

It’s important to note that not all antifreeze is the same. Auto manufacturers specify which type of coolant your car needs. Be sure to read your owner’s manual to determine the correct coolant type for your specific vehicle.

Other Causes Of Car Overheating 

If you have inspected your vehicle’s coolant levels, performed a radiator flush, and added fresh (correctly diluted) coolant, and your car is still overheating, then chances are you have another issue going on. Here are a few other things that may cause car overheating:

• Bad Thermostat: The thermostat is a valve-like device that tracks the engine’s temperature and turns on and off as needed. If it goes bad or gets stuck, your vehicle can overheat. Replacing a bad thermostat can quickly restore the cooling system’s performance.
• Clogged Radiator: Excess sediment, scale, and rust buildup from old coolant can clog the radiator, restricting the flow of coolant. If the hot coolant cannot move freely through the radiator, the fluid will not cool down, so your engine stays hot. A radiator flush and new coolant can remedy the problem.
• Damaged Radiator Cap: A damaged radiator cap prevents the cooling system from pressurizing, so your car will overheat. They are relatively inexpensive, so if your cap looks cracked, discolored, or is missing the seal, buy a new one and replace the old cap.
• Failing Water Pump: If the coolant is not circulating through the cooling system, the water pump may be failing. A service technician can quickly determine if that is the case.
• Worn Drive Belts: Some vehicles rely on drive belts to run the cooling fans and the water pump. A worn belt may slip or operate less effectively than needed to keep your engine cool. Old drive belts require replacement.

All A’s Automotive Diagnostic Services

If you are worried about your car overheating this summer, bring it in to All A’s Automotive in Midland, MI. Our experienced service technicians will perform a comprehensive diagnostic service to determine if your cooling system requires repairs, part replacement, or simply fresh coolant. If we determine that old antifreeze is the cause of your overheating engine, we will clearly explain the issue and help you get back on the road to enjoy all that summer has to offer.

Make An Appointment

Call us at (989) 631-4672 to make an appointment, or you can go online and use our easy form. We look forward to seeing you!