Fall time radiator care and flushing is a great idea both for cooling system maintenance as well as preparing for winter time interior car heater and defroster proper and adequate functioning . Yet many do-it-yourself backyard mechanics don't even give second thrift to how they dispose of waste ethylene glycol or other forms of waste antifreeze materials. They aught to . Ethylene glycol permanent type anti-freeze is a downright deadly combination for children and household pets. Its bright colored , sweet to taste and shuts down and destroys kidney and liver functions. Take the extra time and effort to properly dispose of waste at your local approved disposal station for safe disposal . As well mop up and clean any and all spills immediately on the spot.

You should also be aware that although the air conditioner in your truck or car does a exceptional job of keeping the interior of your vehicle cool , it also raises the operating temperatures of your motor and powerplant. Thus if you do have an air conditioner installed - either factory installed models or after market installations, ensure that you have a 50/50 mix during the summer months that you use your air conditioner the most. If during your seasonal check you find or notice that the levels of coolant are very low then it might be a good and wise time to flush your cooling system thoroughly. The first is if you have not changed or replaced your coolant in two years. A mild rust and scale condition in the cooling system usually can be corrected by cleaning with any of a number of commercially available chemical cleaning preparations. Where an aluminum radiator is used , take great care and pains to ensure that a cleaner compound is used that is harmless and approved for use with alum rads. Unscrew the radiator cap and peer in. In many newer cars you best open the radiator coolant fluid overflow tank. Opening up the rad cap itself my unseal this sealed system. Once inspecting the liquids inside note are the liquids clear or do they look like rock and roll ice cream mix. A resultant cracked engine block will ruin your month with a resultant no go vehicle. It can all happen overnight in a snap cold spell. It may not happen in warm Vancouver or Coquitlam. However try the cold climes of Northern British Columbia way up north in Canada or Alaska - 40 degree January wintertime blizzard.

However if neither of the two above conditions ring true - you have drained and replaced your ethylene glycol antifreeze in the past two years and that your engine has not run hot over the summer and neither boiled over you may still be in need of a change or at least inspection of your radiator and coolant so that you can decide whether it or a change of fluid is a wise idea or good choice for vehicle maintenance, care and longevity.

Firstly when the engine and rad are dead cold unscrew the radiator cap and take a quick look see. In some newer cars and trucks the main visual access to fluid may be the top cap of the engine antifreeze overflow reservoir. Ethylene glycols are poisonous and must be never be drunk or taken internally. Wood alcohols are poisons as well and will cause blindness if swallowed. Keep away from children and pets. Never put drinks or food in empty antifreeze containers. Lastly never ever place spare antifreezes for storage in ordinary unmarked or even commercially mislabeled for the purpose containers. One moron actually placed wood alcohol antifreeze into an empty Segrams whiskey bottle in his trunk. Kids found it in his car and drank the contents thinking it was ( and tasted like) and alcoholic beverage when mixed with coca cola - If your car lacks a recovery system, you can buy and install one rather inexpensively. Installation is fairly simple and straightforward . You usually just attach the bracket that holds the bottle to the frame of the car or truck under the hood, so that the bottle will sit slightly lower than the overflow pipe from your radiator. Then , one of the hoses from the bottle is usually connected to the radiator overflow pipe. You then replace the original radiator cap with that cap that comes in the carton with the kit. Voila. Is the coolant rusty ? What is its appearance in color and coloration. Perhaps the color is not rust but rather a mixture of different brands and colors of commercial antifreeze products. Bright red , green and blue colored ( new and good) antifreeze products mixed together over time will appear on the color wheel as a dark even rusty appearance liquid?

To check antifreeze strengths use a special hydrometer or refractometer to test coolant protection level at operating temperatures. Draw coolant in and out of the hydrometer several times to bring hydrometer temperature and temperatures up to coolant temperature. When using the test unit follow manufacturer's instructions to the tee. Otherwise you may void new truck , car or third party vehicle warranties. Or purchase one yourself. If you save yourself a cracked engine block the relatively small cost will well be wroth the outlay for the measuring device. There are three basic antifreeze solutions. Denatured ( ethyl) alcohol, methanol ( methyl or wood alcohol) and ethylene glycol make up the three basic antifreeze solutions. Ethylene glycol ( also called permanent type antifreeze) has several advantages over denatured alcohol or methanol. Ethylene glycol will not cause a fire hazard. It does not harm body and car body paint finishes states William S Simpson of Bill's auto body- although in rare cases it can cause minor "heat spotting". It does not evaporate at normal system operating temperature and can be used with 180 degree F ( 82 degrees C.) and above automotive thermostats. Hence ethylene glycol is a wise choice for pouring out good heat from the interior heater and defroster.
Lastly it can be left in the cooling system for extended time periods as is done with late model or stored vehicles throughout the year.

In the end you will be rewarded with wintertime driving piece of mind, a toasty warm vehicle and a safe and clear defrosted windscreen.