Do you want tips on how to choose a good automotive additive? So, stay until the end, and check out everything about this subject.
O automotive additive It is a type of product that causes a lot of discussion, and generates many myths and truths about its effects, and it is no wonder!
Basically, additives are liquids with fundamental importance when it comes to the cooling system of all vehicles.
After all, they help ensure that everything works perfectly, and the driver doesn't have to deal with any bad surprises.
Therefore, if you don't feel confident about the subject, and want to understand better about automotive additives, their differences and how to choose one, continue reading to check out all this information, and ask us your questions!
What is an automotive additive and what is it for?
Starting with the basics, let's understand what an automotive additive is and what it is for.
The automotive additive plays a fundamental role within the automobile cooling system. Basically, it makes up the system together with water and radiator fluid.
When the car is running, water from the cooling system begins to circulate through the engine, causing it to heat up, which can cause boiling.
In this scenario, the additive serves precisely to prevent the liquid from reaching the boiling point.
Likewise, in very cold locations or times of the year, there is a risk of the water in the radiator freezing while the engine is off. The additive helps prevent this too.
Furthermore, not using the additive in the radiator can lead to other problems arising, both in the pump and in the engine itself, which causes even more expenses and accelerated depreciation of the car.
Finally, the additive is also made up of some substances and properties that prevent water from rusting the internal components of the engine.
Therefore, the radiator additive is extremely important to avoid the emergence of problems like those mentioned above.
How does the automotive additive work in practice?
As we mentioned above, the additive helps prevent the water in the radiator from freezing, boiling and rusting the car's engine components. But how does the additive do this?
The additive is nothing more than a liquid produced with some components. But the most important of them is MEG (Monoethylene glycol or ethylene glycol).
This substance present in the additive will ensure that the vehicle's cooling system works at the correct temperature and pressure.
Furthermore, this composition works to help raise the boiling point of water, and also the freezing point, keeping the water temperature inside the vehicle always at the recommended maximum and minimum limits (95 and 120°).
How to choose an automotive additive?
On the market, it is possible to find a very wide variety of automotive additives. But don't be fooled! Not all of them are of quality.
Using a low quality additive can cause more problems than actually helping you.
The risk goes much further than just a few spikes in water overheating. In fact, a low-quality additive can lead to faster corrosion of the hoses, and all aluminum parts of the engine.
If this happens, you can already imagine the expense it would take to make all the repairs, right? And without a doubt, they are much more expensive than spending a little extra to buy a good quality additive.
In addition to this damage, a low-quality additive damages more than just the engine, causing problems with the radiator, thermostatic valve, water pump and cylinder head.
To know how to choose an automotive additive, you first need to know the types and characteristics of each one! Check out:
Organic Additive
One of the types of automotive additive is organic. As the name suggests, organic additives are composed only of organic substances, one of their advantages being their contribution to environmental preservation.
This additive must be changed every 240.000 km driven on the vehicle, and its production must be in accordance with the NBR 15297 standard.
Furthermore, it works in the same way as the synthetic additive and also has MEG. In other words, it will work by keeping the water temperature in the engine controlled.
Synthetic additive
The other additive format is synthetic. In this case, the product is made in a laboratory, using several components that are not organic.
Therefore, its substances are not biodegradable and, consequently, are more harmful to the environment.
For this type of additive, the regulatory standard is NBR 13705, where the regulation of all components is described.
The choice of radiator additive for your vehicle must be made in accordance with what the manufacturer indicates in the vehicle manual. But, if you no longer have the manual, you can try to find it on the internet, or consult a professional in the field.
Therefore, the correct way to choose an automotive additive is to follow the manufacturer's own recommendations. This way, you will be sure that the product is ideal for your car.
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