How can you detect that your car loses antifreeze fluid in winter? If you have signs that there are leaks, here are some tricks to make sure.
Regardless of the season of the year, a coolant leak can end in a breakdown that is expensive to repair. This fluid is in charge of keeping the engine at the optimal temperature, preventing it from overheating thanks to the radiator if you are moving and with the help of the front fans if you are standing still for a long time with the engine running.
Therefore, the cooling system is a vital component that ensures the proper functioning of the car’s engine and, in addition, helps to preserve its integrity over the years and kilometers. However, this system also suffers from breakdowns and one of the most common is antifreeze fluid leaks.
To help you detect these possible leaks, whether it is winter or summer, in this article we leave you some tips that you can put into practice yourself without the need for tools so that, at least, you make sure that there is a loss of this liquid and that you can Go to a workshop to repair it.
How can you detect that your car loses antifreeze fluid in winter?
The first thing you should do is perform a visual inspection. To do this, raise the hood and check that the level of antifreeze in the expansion tank is not too low. You will see that there are some marks on the glass itself that indicate the maximum and minimum that the system should carry.
Even if you don’t see a low level, there may be a leak. Take your time and arm yourself with a flashlight to inspect those areas that are hidden from the naked eye. Check the hoses that come out of the expansion vessel and those that enter, as well as others that reach the radiator.
As it is a liquid with an intense color (generally yellow, green or fuchsia), it is easy to see where the loss is occurring. Still, it may be occurring below the engine and you may not be able to locate it with the naked eye without dropping to the ground and checking the underbody of the front compartment.
Before this step, we advise you to place the car on an area of the pavement that is clean and level. For better accuracy, place kitchen paper or newspaper on the ground under the engine and run the car for a few minutes until the antifreeze reaches its working temperature.
Once at this point, turn off the engine and allow the fluid to cool without moving the vehicle or removing the paper from the floor. Wait a few minutes before looking under the engine. If there is an antifreeze leak, you will quickly locate it by observing the exact place where the coolant drips on the floor, on kitchen paper or newspapers.
If the leak is significant, we recommend that you do not drive the car and use your insurance to request roadside assistance and have a tow truck take it directly to a workshop. On the contrary, if the leak is still slight, do not take too long to go to a workshop to make the necessary repairs, so you will avoid a possible mechanical breakdown.
