Many people, especially first-time truck owners, do not know what an engine coolant is and its role in your engine. Ignorance makes new truck owners not develop an interest in this vital engine fluid. Coolant is one of the fluids necessary for your engine’s good health.
What is An Engine Coolant?
The internal combustion engine burns a mixture of air and fuel in the cylinders. As combustion takes place, a lot of heat is generated. Heat is also generated when the engine’s metallic parts are in motion and constantly rub against each other.
The coolant plays the primary role of transferring the heat from the engine to ensure that the engine does not overheat. The coolant runs through the engine, similar to engine oil. It is necessary to ensure that your coolant does not boil or freeze because heat can only be transferred by liquid. When the coolant evaporates or freezes, it will not be able to reach all the parts of the engine, which might make some metallic parts of the engine start melting.
Why Engine Coolant is Crucial for your Truck
The engine coolant is in the form of a mixture of antifreeze and water in the radiator and acts as the air conditioner of your engine. It regulates your engine’s temperature in severe weather conditions, when it is too hot or cold, which prevents your engine from breaking down due to overheating or freezing.
Your truck’s cooling system has water and antifreeze in a ratio of 50/50. This rule may vary depending on the weather condition in which you regularly use your truck. Different weather conditions might lead to variation in the water and coolant mixture ratio. Such a variation aims to optimize the amount of heat from the engine. For example, the ambient temperature will force the engine coolant to adjust the mixing ratio by either reducing the freezing point or increasing the boiling point to harmonize the mixture, depending on the weather.
When to Change Engine Coolant
Most coolants will serve you for a very long time before requiring a replacement. Even if you own an old truck, you only need to worry about the coolant after 12 months of service. In modern trucks, the same coolant will serve you for 5 to 10 years.
It would help if you considered flushing your coolant based on the manufacturer’s timing. It is necessary to read the manufacturer’s guide to know when to do this. Sometimes the cooling system might develop leakages, or the engine might malfunction. You will need to repair your engine and the cooling system in such scenarios. When performing such repairs, you will need to check the condition of your coolant. Always check the manufacturer’s guide to know when and which type of coolant is fit for your truck.
Conclusion
The engine produces a lot of heat as it functions. The heat can damage vital parts of the engine by melting them or breaking. The coolant plays the role of cooling the engine just like a radiator by absorbing the excess heat.