More than four in five motorists don’t know how antifreeze & coolant works

Thanks to changes in engine technology and increasingly demanding environmental legislation, making sure that the correct coolant is used for each vehicle is becoming ever more critical, according to Comma.

A survey carried out for the Comma brand by Cosan Lubricants found that over 83% of motorists in the UK are unaware of the function that the coolant performs in their vehicles, with over 65% admitting they wouldn’t know how to choose a product suitable for their car.

In recent years, engine design has changed to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions, with car manufacturers developing increasingly tailored coolants and lubricants for specific, individual engine needs. The escalating demands on these modern engines have made operating conditions more severe, meaning more is required from the cooling system, while the use of an increasingly diverse set of materials for engine construction further highlights the fact that so called ‘universal’ coolants cannot properly address the requirements of multiple manufacturers - one size does not fit all when choosing coolant.

The common misperception that using a single commodity product will do - or worse still, that it is safe to replace coolant simply on the basis of its colour - can easily lead to entirely the wrong product being used, resulting in overheating, corrosion, failure of engine components such as pumps and seals, and possible invalidation of the warranty.

The imperative therefore is to provide your customer with a product that is appropriate for their vehicle. It is vital for distributors to stock the right coolants and for workshop technicians to educate and advise their customers on which one they should use, making sure that they are aware of the type of coolant in their car and how it must be maintained.

Comma Xstream® antifreeze and coolant contains BASF Glysantin®, the OE-fill choice of most European vehicle manufacturers, with more vehicle manufacturer approvals than any other coolant on the market. Moreover, you can fit with confidence, safe in the knowledge that Comma’s Compatibility Guarantee covers the vehicle application guide at www.CommaOil.com.

Comma’s range of OEM-approved Xstream® coolants - Xstream® G48® (silicate based technology), Xstream® G05® (silicate hybrid), Xstream® G30® (OAT) and Xstream® G40® (Silicated OAT) – provide fourfold protection, while the Comma Application Guide (www.CommaOil.com) is a quick and accurate source to identify the right coolant for every vehicle by simplifying and taking the risk out of a potentially complicated choice.

Comma spokesman, Mike Bewsey, said: “Effective coolants are vital to optimise vehicle performance and extend engine service life. But it is crucial to use a coolant tailored to the specific demands of the materials used by the engine manufacturer. Comma Xstream® provides just that: a range of coolant products that will enable you to meet all of your customer’s needs and always have the right product to hand, whatever the manufacturer’s specifications might be.”