6 FARM NEWS OCT / NOV 2020 • farmers-mart . co . uk
COOLANTS - one of the most important things you ’ ll put in your engine
WHATEVER types of farm vehicles and machinery you have , an engine ’ s coolant has quite a demanding job . It needs to be able to withstand freezing temperatures to avoid the risk of turning into a solid , which could cause internal damage to the engine such as fracturing a waterway and causing it to leak ( anti-freeze ).
During the summer , it needs to maintain the engine ’ s temperature to ensure it doesn ’ t get too hot , along with help from the radiator and a mechanical or electric cooling fan . The coolant also needs to prevent internal corrosion of the engine , which can otherwise result in porous waterways and a build-up of silt that can block outlets and the water pump .
Coolants are made up of a combination of finely balanced additives that each have a specific role in the quality of the product . Water acts as the main heat-transfer fluid moving heat away from the engine block . Monoethylene Glycol ( MEG ), an organic compound , is added as it also provides heat-transfer but most importantly it lowers
ENGINE PROTECTION ALL YEAR ROUND the freezing point and raises the boiling point of the water . Without MEG or a similar organic molecule , coolant would freeze readily and subsequently damage the engine .”
Water and MEG on their own would be corrosive to metals within the cooling system . That means rust would quickly block the cooling system and overheating would occur . Additives are used to prevent corrosion and inorganic additive technology products ( IAT ) are used . This means that the chemicals that protect against corrosion are inorganic in nature , such as borates , silicates and nitrates . Inorganic chemicals are mined from the earth and refined . IAT is a tried and tested classical method for protection .”
Most classic cars from the mid-1990s or before use a blue-coloured coolant ( also called anti-freeze ). Later and more modern engines can use a longer-lasting silicate-free , organic acid technology ( OAT ) based coolant . There ’ s also some confusion over the colour of coolant and its lifespan . For instance , bluecoloured coolant is generally
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regarded as lasting for two years before it needs changing , whereas pink-coloured coolant lasts for six years . Colour is purely cosmetic and gives no indication of the technology or quality of the product .
Renewal intervals
The recommended intervals for changing coolant appear to be around two years for blue-coloured coolant and six years for pink . However , it ’ s worthwhile testing the freezing and cooling capacity of the coolant at every service interval ( at least once a year ) to check its condition . This can be done with a simple anti-freeze hydrometer that costs from around £ 10 upwards from motor factors and tools suppliers .
While checking the coolant , it ’ s also worthwhile checking over the cooling system of the engine , by squeezing hoses to look for perishing , inspecting all connections for traces of leaks ( e . g . residue ) and looking around the radiator for similar leaks . Hose clips should be sufficiently tight to prevent leaks , but Jubilee clips and similar clips must not be over-tightened as they can cut into the rubber and create a leak .
Renewing Coolant
The general aim of renewing engine coolant is to remove the old liquid and refill the system with a fresh mix of anti-freeze and coolant ( pre-mixed coolant is also available ). The ratio of water to anti-freeze varies , depending on the desired freezing capability you need – the greater the proportion of anti-freeze , the lower the freezing point .
Make Sure You Get the Right Product
As explained earlier coolants offer different technologies specifically for classic cars , hybrid , modern passenger cars , right through to racing vehicles , as well as farm machinery , plant and off-road equipment , lorry fleets and . What is vital is to get the right coolant for the right type of vehicle .
Witham Group , who has manufactured agricultural lubricants and greases and supplied coolants for many years has developed the perfect new range of Qualguard Universal , and Hybrid Coolants to protect your engines from frost damage and corrosion in both older and brand new vehicles , whatever the type , all recommended by OEM ’ s and complying to the latest technology requirements .. Concentrated , 50:50 premixed or standard blue , we have always sought to simplify and rationalise the ever-increasing requirements of individual manufacturers and so the choice of correct coolant and lubricant has never been more important . Time and again it has been proved that putting the right product in your engines makes all the difference to the increased performance and vital maintenance free durability of your machinery .
All Witham Anti-Freeze products are available in 1 , 5 , 25 and bulk 200 Litre sizes and currently there ’ s a special winter offer for free Screen wash and de-icer . So why not get prepared for winter and contact Witham Group www . withamgroup . co . uk for more information .