• 
• 

Published on July 25, 2007

Other kinds of fluids that are vital range from engine oil, power-steering oil and gear oil to engine coolant and wiper fluid.

As all drivers know, these kinds of fluids are burned away when the cars function. Some of them have to be changed after drivers use the cars for certain periods in order to keep the vehicles in proper working condition.

Every time owners have to buy these kinds of fluids, they ask themselves big questions, such as if they should continue using the same products and brands or switch to new ones that boast of better qualities.

For example, some products claim they can prolong the lifespan of some vital engine parts. This implies that if you use them, you can save money.

Of course, these products are much more expensive than the general products, which do not claim to share the same qualities.

The cooling systems of vehicles in Thailand seem to have to work harder than those in other countries for many reasons, including the hot weather. Moreover, many Thai vehicle-owners overwork them. For example, lorry drivers overload their vehicles while driving at high speeds for the whole day.

The fate of passenger cars is not much better, given that they get jammed for hours in the clogged-up traffic. All of these conditions force the vehicles to work harder.

To protect a car or prolong its lifespan, the fluids in the cooling system have been continuously developed to enhance its capacity to dispose of engine heat. Just using ordinary water in the system is not enough. A special chemical must be mixed with the water in order to boost its capability of disposing of engine heat.

Three types of chemicals are used in the cooling system. The first is the coolant for reducing engine temperature. As a matter of fact, the coolant does not reduce engine temperature but works by changing the boiling point of the water.

For example, in general, water will reach its boiling point at 100 degrees Celsius, and the engine heat will stay at 98 degrees Celsius. When mixing the coolant chemicals proportionately in the water, the engine heat is at the same level as usual, but the water will not boil unless the engine temperature reaches 115 degrees Celsius.

In sum, the engine temperature is the same, but the heat-level gauge will not go up. It might even go down occasionally.

The second chemical that is mixed with the water in all new cars is the anti-rust, for preventing corrosion in the radiator, cylinder block and other parts that get wet.

However, even if you use the anti-rust chemical, there is a chance that the rust can appear in these engine parts. This is because when the engine is not running, standing water in the pipes of the cylinder block can cause corrosion. But using anti-rust chemicals certainly help reduce the chance of rust formation.

Third are chemicals that remove rust. Among the three chemicals mentioned here, it is the only chemical that is not mixed in the water during car assembly. But some mechanics will recommend it to car-owners when the vehicles are found to report higher heat. The technicians will claim that it is used to clean the radiator.

But besides removing the rust, it is found many times that this chemical happens to corrode the material parts of the cooling system, such as the fluid pipe or the radiator grill - or even the rubber parts, which causes leakage. The coolant and anti-rust chemical, when mixed in the water in the cooling system, will colour the water. The good point is that it means that owners can easily see the leakage spot.

To use or not to use cooling and anti-rust chemicals depends on the decision of the car-owner. But it is better not to use the rust-removing chemical. It is smarter to ask for the advice of an experienced mechanic if you want to clean the radiator system.

By Pattanadesh Asasappakij

E-mail your motoring questions to Pattanadesh@nationgroup.com.

Ultimate in Luxury

The Luxury LS 460 is a wonderfully comfaortable car fitted with all mod cons, althoough not necessarily the most fun vehicle to drive.