Antifreeze - what is it? Color antifreeze for heating systems

To date, antifreeze is an integral part of every modern car. It is this liquid that performs the function of cooling the engine of the vehicle, and also contributes to the harmonious operation of the heating systems. The importance of the presence of antifreeze is comparable to the presence of motor oil, because in both cases the absence of this or that liquid will inevitably lead to breakdown and overheating of the engine of the machine. And today we will devote a separate article to such an important element as antifreeze.

What it is?

Antifreeze is a liquid that consists of a glycol base (it can be propylene or ethylene glycol), as well as several additives. The latter perform several functions - anti-corrosion, stabilizing and anti-foaming. Ethylene glycol itself is a low-freezing aqueous solution having a boiling point of the order of 200 degrees Celsius. The liquid on this basis appeared in the world about 80 years ago. It was developed by BASF and named "glysantin" (antifreeze for heating systems and cooling systems of ICE). Such a name is still used by BASF to mark its production of cooling liquids.

Differences between antifreeze and antifreeze

Lately, there has been a lot of controversy over what is better to pour in the ODS - antifreeze or antifreeze. To find out the true answer, we will analyze everything in order. So, antifreeze. The term "antifreeze", which in English means "freezing", has long been used to refer to cooling liquids produced in Europe and the United States. Tosol is the same as antifreeze. The only difference is that it is produced exclusively in the countries of the former USSR. That is, antifreeze - this, you can say, Russian antifreeze, however, it appeared only in the early 70-ies of the last century.

Coloring

Now in the auto shops began to deliver green and even fire-orange antifreeze. What it is? In fact, it is the same antifreeze, only with a dye. If domestic producers paint their products in a single blue-blue shade, then abroad firms produce a different antifreeze (yellow, red, and so on). Such a variety sometimes leads to the stupor of car owners when choosing the right fluid. In fact, there are no significant differences between multi-colored antifreezes. All of them differ only in the amount of available dye inside. Thus, the color of antifreeze is only a marketing move of companies. They are trying to attract the attention of a large number of consumers to bright and "unusual" coolants in this way. Antifreeze for heating and SOD, whether it is blue or green, represents the same importance for the car.

Is it possible to mix OZ of different brands and manufacturers?

The answer to this question is ambiguous. Of course, many car enthusiasts will be surprised to learn that one brand of antifreeze can be diluted with another liquid. And they are partly right. Mixing of antifreeze is possible only if both substances have the same amount of additives. Different companies use different additives for their products, so not always such liquids will be compatible with each other. The color of the antifreeze here does not matter. Yes, ethylene glycol in all antifreeze has the same composition. You can mix it in any proportions. But with additives, things are quite different. Some, depending on the manufacturer, can be inorganic compounds (phosphate, amine and boronitride), others - chemical compounds of a new generation. Therefore, when these substances are combined, all the lubricating and anticorrosive properties previously provided by the coolant are degraded several times. The conclusion from this is only one - to mix different antifreezes without reading the composition of their additives is highly discouraged. Otherwise, this will lead to frequent overheating, and, accordingly, to a decrease in the life of the engine and heating systems.

How can I not get a fake?

Unfortunately, neither Russia nor Europe has a single standard that regulates the life of the coolant. In other words, certification of antifreezes is not mandatory. Therefore, it is simply impossible to determine whether this is a high-quality antifreeze or a fake, without special studies.

However, not everything is so hopeless. To reduce the risk of buying counterfeits, you can, most importantly, make sure that the goods have been selected correctly. When buying antifreeze, you should pay attention to such aspects:

1. Place of purchase. If you buy goods in a specialized store, the risk of finding a counterfeit there is reduced at times. Remember that the more known in the city (area) this point, the less chance to stumble on scammers. Such stores must be checked and unconditionally provide all documents and certificates of quality for the shipment of goods.
2. Information on the label. When choosing carefully study the information written on the label. On the canister with quality tosol, the TU number or the manufacturer's standard is always marked. The latter is most often found on imported antifreeze agents. Also it is necessary to look at the expiration date and the date of manufacture of the goods. Finally, we note that all bona fide manufacturers always indicate their coordinates and addresses on the label. If this antifreeze is without the manufacturer's brand and with missing data on TU, it means that it was spilled in a garage way, that is, it is a fake.
3. The cost . It's clear, antifreeze, which can be bought at the price of the same capacity of mineral water, is not of high quality. But the most expensive antifreeze to buy is not necessary. It is better to adhere to the principle of "golden mean", and, if possible, to find reviews on the Internet about this manufacturer. Otherwise, antifreeze for car heating systems will not bring any benefit. The motor will constantly overheat, and the stove only serve cold air.

Mixing antifreeze with oil

An oil appeared in the antifreeze. What to do? In general, this phenomenon is very rare on imported and domestic cars (often the antifreeze simply "foams" in the expansion tank). But how to deal with this situation? To begin with, we note that most modern cars, especially imported ones, are equipped with a special heat exchanger, which is located on the body of the oil filter. At this point, the oil is exchanged with the cooling liquid. And if this heat exchanger has lost its former tightness, the possibility of mixing both substances in the car increases at times.

By the way, on the running engine, the likelihood of oil penetration into the ODS is much higher than at the idle (even if it is the most expensive antifreeze). What it is? In fact, everything is very simple. This phenomenon is due to pressure inside the system. With the engine off, after a few minutes its level will almost equal the atmospheric level.

Consequences of mixing antifreeze with oil

Remember that ethylene glycol, mixing with oil, can significantly worsen the performance of the engine and its components, so if the percentage of its content exceeds the mark of 0.35 percent, you should immediately contact the car service center. Otherwise, it is fraught with engine corrosion and damage to the oily film on the walls of the cylinders.

How often should I change the antifreeze?

What this is and for what this liquid serves, we have already found out. Now about the periodicity of the substitution. And it is recommended to change the antifreeze every 60-80 thousand kilometers, and preferably before the onset of winter cold. With the new antifreeze both the stove and the engine will work together smoothly for several months and even years.