A lot of people ask me, 'Do I need to winterize my cooling system this year?' and 'How long should my antifreeze or coolant last?'
Most people think that the only thing they need to worry about when it comes to their coolant is AVOIDING FREEZE-UPS.
There are 3 things we have to worry about with coolant:
- Protection against freezing and boiling
- Rust and Mineral Deposits
- P/H balance
Protection
A 50-50 mix gives protection to -34 degrees
Rust.
Rust will grow in the system over time. It's a living entity that eats things.
P/H Balance
Acid eats:
- Radiators
- Heater cores
- Hoses
- Engine head gaskets
Alkaline causes:
- Mineral deposits
- Clogged up radiators, thermostats, and heater cores
What about these $19 or $29 Cooling System Services?
A Radiator drain and fill doesn't really fix the big problems. The radiator will still have rust & pH Balance problems.
Every 2 Years, do a complete Cooling System Flush, including a Chemical Flush / Back-flush. This will remove rust and mineral deposits, and set the pH balance correctly.
This is some of the best insurance you can buy for your car this winter!