Types of Coolant for Cooling System of a Automobile

Coolant in cooling system is a fluid which is a combination of water and an antifreezer. This mixture of water and antifreezer is present in coolant reservoir. Sometimes, antifreezer alone is referred as coolant. An antifreezer performs two tasks - one is to keep engine away from freezing up in winter and second is to keep the engine cool in summer while in motion.

An antifreezer contains acids that can wear the metal parts of engine with passage of time. So, manufacturers add some additives to antifreezer to protect the metal parts from corrosion. With time these additives too get break down and become harmful to the engine. So, the antifreezers are to be replaced after a period of time. Automobile manufactures use a particular type of coolant for all of their models. It also determines the type of coolant to be used in the automobile.

Types of antifreezers

An automobile can run on any type of coolant. But there are few important things to consider while using an antifreezer. They are, how frequent do you flush your coolant and what kind of additives you prefer in the coolant. Depending on these factors, there are three types of antifreezers for an automobile. Each antifreezer has its advantage and is preferred depending on the need.

• Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT) antifreezers

This type of antifreezer is present in green color and contains silicate and phosphate corrosion inhibitors to protect the metal parts of the automobile through which coolant runs such as engine head, block and radiator. IAT type of antifreezers can be flushed out of automobile every two years or every 50,000 Kms.

• Organic Acid Technology (OAT) antifreezers

OAT resembles in wide range of colors from orange to dark green and does not have silicate or phosphate corrosion inhibitors. This type of coolant has higher life period but it can wear the metal parts over time. The manufacturers of this type of coolant add different type of additives to this coolant to prevent corrosion and rust. This type of coolant can be flushed every five years. In terms of distance it can be flushed every 250,000 Kms.

• Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) antifreezers

These antifreezers are available in orange and yellow color. This type of coolant has mixed advantages of IAT and OAT coolant. As this type contains silicates which protect metal parts of automobile from corrosion, they last longer like in case of OAT coolant. They can be flushed every 5 years or every 250,000 Kms.

An antifreezer is the most important attribute of a cooling system. For any automobile, without antifreezer, it is not possible to dissipate heat out of the engine. So, using a correct type of antifreezer determines the life of an automobile engine.

Airtex Fuel Delivery Systems is the leading aftermarket supplier of mechanical and electric a href=http://www.airtexproducts.comfuel pumps.