How To Check and Add Radiator Fluid
There are many things that need to be taken care of if you need to maintain your car. To avoid overheating, a coolant is used in the radiator for a better performance of the car. The fluid has to be regularly checked and replaced to assure a good performance of the engine at all times.
The process involves a series of tasks which include checking the level of the fluid in the radiator, measuring the boiling and freezing points of the coolant and adding the required quantity to the radiator after all the checks.
Instructions
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1
Park the car after driving a short distance
Drive the car for a short distance and park it on a level surface. Checking the level of the coolant when the engine is cool or when the engine is too hot will not give the best results. Make sure you make the check when the engine is moderately hot or warm -
2
Raise the bonnet and find the radiator cap
When you have parked the car, open the bonnet and look for the radiator in the engine. Do not open the radiator cap immediately as there is a danger of hot water overflowing which could burn your skin. This is the reason to check the level of the fluid when the engine is moderately hot -
3
Determine the level of fluid in the radiator and the radiator overflow tank
When you have removed the radiator cap, measure the level of the coolant in it. There is usually a marking on the radiator metal which shows what the desired level should be. After checking the radiator, check the radiator overflow tank. It is the tank where fluid from the radiator overflows into. The lower the quantity in the overflow tank, the better -
4
Determine the boiling point and the freezing point of the fluid
In order to keep a proper check, determine the freezing and boiling point of the coolant through an antifreeze hydrometer. The hydrometer further helps you in checking whether the coolant in the radiator needs to be replaced or not. The coolant level should be checked with a hydrometer after every three months for a better performance -
5
Maintain the level of fluid as per requirement
If the level in the radiator is low, add the coolant. Use a funnel to avoid spillage from the radiator. Most experts advise on mixing antifreeze with distilled water for the radiator so that the coolant remains favourable for all temperatures
