![]() Make sure your vehicle has had at least 30 minutes (preferably longer) to cool off, so that the radiator hose is not hot to the touch. If the recovery tank is completely empty, you'll need to add a mixture of antifreeze/water to the radiator. Pressurized recovery tanks are clearly marked with warning decals and their cap is a system pressure cap, rather than a simple plug or twist-off cap. Some vehicles' recovery tanks are pressurized when the engine is hot, making the caps as dangerous to remove as radiator caps. If you have to add more than a quart of liquid to the cooling system, use a glycol/water antifreeze mixture. If your coolant level is slightly low, it's safe to add a few ounces of plain water to bring the level back up to the appropriate mark. There are two level indicators on the side of the tank: one indicates the safe level when the engine is hot the other, when it is cold. You can check your coolant level simply by looking at the overflow tank. As long as the radiator cap remains sealed, the coolant can expand and contract without losing a drop. When the engine cools down, a slight vacuum forms in the radiator and the fluid is drawn out of the tank/reservoir and back into the radiator. The configuration of the radiator and tank/reservoir lets hot coolant expand into the tank as the engine temperature rises. Most vehicles have a coolant recovery tank or overflow reservoir, which makes checking the fluid level a lot easier and safer. You're checking for two things: quantity and condition. Like any other engine fluid, the coolant needs to be checked on a regular basis. Don't pour coolant down your sink or into storm drains. Most communities have procedures for disposing of hazardous waste if you do your own repairs and maintenance, take advantage of these procedures. It's safer to have a repair facility flush your cooling system, since they are required by law to dispose of the material safely. For this reason, special care must be taken to dispose of used antifreeze. This doesn't mean children or pets can ingest it without harm, but, like alcohol, propylene glycol is not toxic at low levels.Īny antifreeze, whether ethylene or propylene glycol based, picks up heavy-metal contamination during use. Propylene glycol antifreeze is significantly less toxic than ethylene glycol. There is very little difference in the performance of either substance – the advantage is the toxicity level. Propylene glycol antifreeze: An alternative antifreeze base is propylene glycol.Ethylene glycol antifreeze has a sweet odor and flavor, which makes it dangerously appealing to animals and/or small children. ![]()
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