SAFETY & PREVENTION

OEM Helps You Maintain Your Vehicle.

If you want to know more about how the right antifreeze/coolant helps maintain the life of your vehicle, OEM is here to help. Whether you’re a novice or an automotive expert, we have all the knowledge you need. Educating you on when and how to use OEM antifreeze and best practices to protect your vehicle is part of the OEM experience.

What You

Can Do

The Importance of

Proper Maintenance

Check Your Antifreeze Levels

Change Your

Antifreeze

The Role of Engine Coolant

Engine coolant is designed to remove excess heat from an internal combustion engine, prevent freezing and most importantly, provide corrosion protection so that the engine can operate in an efficient manner. Improper maintenance of radiator coolant exposes the engine to dangerous high temperatures which change the fluid to acid, resulting in a solution circulating through the system that corrodes rather than protects. As corrosion occurs, the metal deposits settle at the bottom of the radiator preventing the natural transfer of heat away from the engine. Protecting the engine for the service life of the car is the role of engine coolant.

What You Can Do

If you prefer to top-up or change the antifreeze/coolant in your vehicle yourself, here are some important tips to follow to better protect the system in the long run.

  • Check the freeze-point of a cooling system’s fluid and replace the antifreeze at the right change interval because used fluid can harm the cooling system’s components and compromise freezing and corrosion protection.
  • Replace the coolant according to the recommended change interval (per years and miles of use) and check for cracked hoses and/or loose clamps and belts to prevent leaks or system damage.
  • Ensure maximum coolant performance with a complete system flush : Premixed coolant can be added as a top-up, but flushing the cooling system and filling it with a concentrate coolant that is properly diluted, is highly recommended because coolant wears out over time and draining and flushing helps remove loose sediment and rust from the radiator.

The Importance of Proper Maintenance

  • Regular coolant system maintenance is important because antifreeze/coolant contains additives to prevent corrosion, lubricating properties for seals and water pumps, and provides heat transfer to the coolant from the metal of the engine.
  • Corrosion inhibitors will be used up over time, reducing corrosion protection, so it is important to have the antifreeze/coolant checked regularly to keep the system protected.
  • Helps to protect the system from winter freeze-up, corrosion and evaporation of water.
  • Maintaining the coolant level is also important for raising the boil point to prevent boil over and water evaporation and helps to keep the heater working properly.
  • Aids in maximizing fuel economy : A proper level, condition and concentration of antifreeze/coolant in the overflow tank are imperative.

Check Your Antifreeze Levels

Directions :

  1. Ensure the car engine is cool. Never check the radiator when the engine is hot or cold.
  2. Use a rag to remove the cap of the radiator tank.
  3. Check the radiator’s coolant level; the fluid should be near the top, or at the “Full” mark etched into the radiator metal (if there is one). If the level is low, you will have to top it up.
  4. If your car also has a radiator overflow tank, remove the cap. There should be little to no fluid present. If the coolant level is low in the radiator and nearly full in the overflow tank long after the car has been driven, take the car in for servicing immediately.
  5. Check the coolant’s protection level (freezing and boiling points) with a coolant refractometer. It is the best tool to measure glycol content and protection levels.

Refer to your owner’s manual for specific cooling system capacity and service instructions prior to changing your vehicle’s antifreeze/coolant. Ideal times to perform coolant tests are in the spring and fall. Check more often if you drive in extreme weather conditions throughout the year.

Change the Antifreeze/ Coolant in Your Vehicle

Directions :

  1. Once the cooling system has been drained of antifreeze, fill with deionized water.
  2. Run engine until warm with heater on high.
  3. Thoroughly drain system again. Repeat until drained water is clear.
  4. Add antifreeze. Use minimum 50/50, maximum 70/30 antifreeze to deionized water mix. Run engine until warm.
  5. Top off with deionized water.

Refer to your owner’s manual for specific cooling system capacity and service instructions prior to changing your vehicle’s antifreeze/coolant. Ideal times to perform coolant tests are in the spring and fall. Check more often if you drive in extreme weather conditions throughout the year.

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