Coolant, which is also known as antifreeze, is a liquid which is added to water in an engines’ cooling system to stop it from overheating or freezing.

The liquid controls the temperature of the water and changes its freezing and boiling point. As expected, the antifreeze will stop the engine from freezing and from ice crystals forming and causing damage.

On the flip side, to cool the engine the coolant circulates through pipes and passageways in the engine, absorbing heat as it goes. The fluid then passes through a heat exchanger/radiator where the heat is transferred from the fluid to the atmosphere.

Antifreeze/coolant is multi-functional and is essential for the effective working of the engine. If chosen correctly, it should do the following:

• Protect the engine from freezing
• Protect the engine from overheating
• Prevent corrosion
• Prevent scale build up
• Be stable at high temperatures
• Be compatible with the range of plastics, metals and other materials in the engine

There are a range of antifreeze and coolants available for different makes and models of cars, so when choosing your product you should make sure that it is suitable for your vehicle and will not cause any damage to your engine.