This adventure is brought to you by Walmart. THE ROCK FATHER is a Socialstars #WalmartAuto Ambassador. The Rubbermaid products featured in this story are all available in the Automotive Department of your local store or at Walmart.com.
In the summer we think of it as “coolant,” but with the snowy season upon us in much of the country, it’s time to be thinking “antifreeze” as below-normal deep-freeze conditions can wreak havoc on your car. While my hope is that most drivers would’ve tackled the coolant prior to the holiday travel season, a Hoth-like January serves as a bitter reminder for those who didn’t.
No matter what the season, your coolant is just as important as the other fluids in your vehicle, and unlike oil (which seems to be at the top of everyone’s mind), that radiator cap at the front of your engine compartment is something that often goes unchecked.
So why is coolant so important in the winter? Well, if your radiator happens to freeze, your engine will overheat. We’ve all seen it, and many of us have experienced it – a car stalled out in the freezing cold with steam emitting from the engine. Don’t let it happen to you.
I’ve prepped both of my vehicles with Prestone Extended Life 50/50 Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant premix from Walmart*. This perfect mix of 50% antifreeze/coolant 50% demineralized water helps preserve engine life with all the temperature, corrosion and heat transfer protection you’d expect from Prestone, but without the color guessing game.
While antifreeze of the past was commonly green, modern coolants can be just about any color, and if you haven’t had a full flush in awhile, there’s a solid chance that you have a mix in your own car. Prestone Extended Life 50/50 Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant premix works with any color antifreeze, for all models of cars and light trucks.
Using a Prestone Antifreeze Tester (also available in your local Walmart Auto department), I was able to make sure everything was running clear (you need to look for nasties like rust and deposits) and that the overall temperature protection was solid, especially for my oldest vehicle, which just hit 150K miles on it’s 10th anniversary.
So before you get ready to log some miles during the cold months, be sure to give your antifreeze a check – but don’t forget to revisit the coolant when the hot months return.
*Please note that newer GM vehicles (like our Chevrolet Equinox) require the Prestone Dex-Cool version of the Extended Life 50/50, which is GM-approved.
