When mercury drops, all kinds of issues can befall your vehicle – from a reduced tire pressure to flat battery. Dealing with these issues can certainly be a headache. However, a more serious fault that you may experience during the winter season is a frozen car engine. An anti-freeze/coolant is of essence as it prevents the engine from freezing in the cold.
If you don’t use an anti-freeze/coolant in the cooling system of your car, it is more likely to freeze. In case you suspect that your vehicle’s cooling system might be frozen, there’re several symptoms and signs to check for.
Symptoms and Signs
It’s a cold winter’s morning. You have removed the ice from your car’s windscreen and switched the ignition on. As soon as you turn the key, you hear a squealing noise coming from the bonnet. This suggests that your car’s water pump has frozen – the noise may be coming from the fan belt as it skids on pulley.
You could just switch your car on and take it out without worrying about the noise. However, if the engine starts to overheat while you’re driving, this could be a sign that there’s something wrong with your car’s cooling system i.e. it may have frozen.
Engines require a flow of anti-freeze/coolant to maintain an optimum temperature, even on cold winter mornings. If your car’s engine overheats, it could mean that anti-freeze/coolant isn’t circulating like it should and the radiator has frozen.
What You Must Do Next
1. Don’t Start Your Car
A frozen cooling system can prove to be damaging for your vehicle. Therefore, if you notice any of the symptoms discussed above, you shouldn’t drive your car.
2. Let the Engine Thaw
When a cooling system fails, it’s best to give some time to the engine to let it thaw. If your car is parked outside in the cold weather, it’ll take days for your system to thaw properly. Therefore, you should move your car to a sheltered location like a garage. You can make the thawing process faster by using a fan heater. The heat will help melt the fluid quicker. It’s important not to drive the vehicle until you are confident that your car’s cooling system has properly thawed.
Aside from letting the system thaw, there is little else one can do in case a car cooling system becomes frozen. However, there is one thing you can do to prevent your car’s cooling system from freezing in the first place. Check and fill your car with the right anti-freeze/coolant before and during the winter.
If you want to buy an anti-freeze/coolant for your vehicle, get them from KOST USA
