Expensive to choose the wrong color

With the arrival of freezing temperatures, it is time to check the antifreeze on the car. You need to check that there is enough liquid in the system and that the liquid is good enough to prevent the engine from freezing. In addition, the antifreeze has additives that prevent the engine from rusting inside.

Checking if there is enough coolant on the engine is easy. In the engine compartment there is a transparent container, where the correct level of the coolant is marked. Modern cars have a closed cooling system, so normally the fluid level shouldn’t drop. However, leaks can occur in the system, so it’s a good idea to check anyway.

It must resist minus 35

To prevent the coolant from freezing and breaking in the engine, it must withstand low temperatures well. A little depending on where you live in Norway, experts recommend that it should withstand minus 35-40 degrees Celsius. You can buy a simple tool that you check at auto supply stores for NOK 50. Otherwise, this is something your garage should be able to help you with.

When buying antifreeze in the store, there are several types to choose from. They usually differ in color.

Before buying, you should check the car’s instruction manual,

Red antifreeze

On newer cars with engines that, among other things, have aluminum headers, red antifreeze is usually applied. It is gentle on aluminum and, according to the manufacturers, lasts longer. This means that it should last at least five years before the properties start to lose.

Using a different type of antifreeze on these engines can cause corrosion damage to aluminum parts or corrosion of gaskets. You don’t notice it right away, but over time it can cause very costly damage.

Prevents rust

On older cars, blue or green antifreeze is often used. Contains substances that prevent iron rust in the engine, is cheaper, but has a shorter shelf life. This means a couple of years before the properties lose so much that they need to be replaced.

Also, when topping up the antifreeze, it is important that it has the same color or properties as it was in the cooling system before. In the Volkswagen instruction manual it is clearly stated how important the right antifreeze is:

Severe damage

“If the liquid in the coolant container has turned brown, for example, it means it has been mixed with the wrong coolant. So it should be replaced immediately. Failure to do so can cause serious engine malfunctions or damage.”

How expensive it can be obviously depends on the damage. Simply replacing the gasket between the cylinder head and the engine block quickly costs NOK 20,000. Repairing a broken cylinder head or engine damage caused by freezing can be much more expensive.

Check the instruction booklet

Norwegian Automobile Association Technical Advisor Tom André Nilsen provides the following advice:

– If you are not sure what type of antifreeze your car should have, check the instruction manual first. It’s important. If you mix different types, a chemical reaction can occur that causes the liquids to clump together or become gelatinous. The result is that it doesn’t cool the engine as it should and severe engine damage occurs, says Nilsen.