As we enter the winter servicing season, Team P R Reilly and NSL are reminding garages and  technicians about the importance of antifreeze and coolants choice, with these products now becoming almost as application specific as engine oils.

Team P R Reilly says that garages need to be aware that there are now three very distinct antifreeze/coolant technologies, Silicate-based, OAT (Organic Additive Technology) and Si-OAT (Silicated OAT) which are used by vehicle manufacturers as ‘original fill’. In simple terms, the difference is in each of their unique chemical additive packages, which are added to the MEG (mono ethylene glycol) and should be mixed with deionized water that provides vital winter protection down to -36ºC.

The chemical additive packages all act in different ways to perform the same fundamental function of protecting from corrosion (rust) and erosion (pitting) on all engine and cooling system components that the coolant comes into contact with. Mixing any of the three with either of the others will have unpredictable and potentially damaging effects to their individual protective properties. This means it is essential to know which coolant technology is in the system and to top up or replace strictly on a like-for like basis.

Consequently, accurate application data is vital as there is no way of knowing which technology a given manufacturer has chosen for their models. There is also a warning that coolant colour is not a reliable indicator of coolant type.

NSL’s manufacturer approved range of Glacier Antifreeze and Coolants cover all application requirements. The company which supplies these high quality products to Team P R Reilly and its stockists have also produced a useful online tool. Using this, technicians can quickly identify which Coolant or Antifreeze to use for a specific make or model. The tool is free to access at the North Sea Lubricants website – http://www.northsealubricants.com

For more information on NSL products and information please contact the Team P R Reilly sales team. Email: sales@team.ie or call 01-832-0006.