If you’ve ever had to pull over on the side of the road because your engine was overheating and steaming like a kettle, you already know how important radiator coolant is—even if you didn’t know that was the culprit at the time. At our towing company, we’ve seen it all: from minor overheats to full-blown engine failures, often caused by something as simple (and fixable) as a coolant issue. So let’s talk about it—radiator coolant and why it matters more than most drivers think.
What Is Radiator Coolant, Really?
Coolant, sometimes called antifreeze, isn’t just colorful liquid in your radiator. It’s a special fluid designed to absorb heat from your engine and release it through the radiator. It does this job year-round, keeping your engine from freezing in the winter and overheating in the summer. It’s the quiet hero in your vehicle’s engine bay, working behind the scenes every time you turn the key.
It’s usually a mix of water and chemicals like ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, along with some added corrosion inhibitors and lubricants. These additives help keep your cooling system parts from rusting out or breaking down too quickly.
The Cooling System: A Quick Peek Behind the Curtain
Your engine generates a lot of heat. Like, a lot. We’re talking hundreds of degrees Celsius. Without something to carry that heat away, your engine would seize up faster than you can say “tow truck.” The coolant circulates through the engine and radiator, pulling heat from the engine block and releasing it into the air through the radiator fins. It’s a cycle that repeats constantly as long as the engine is running.
But here’s the thing—coolant doesn’t last forever. Over time, it breaks down, loses effectiveness, and can even become acidic. That’s when problems start.
Real Talk: What Happens When Coolant Goes Bad
Let me share a quick story. A few months back, we got a call from a customer stuck on the Hume Highway. Their engine had completely overheated. We towed the vehicle back to our partner mechanic, and the diagnosis was a cracked head gasket—an expensive repair that started with a slow coolant leak and coolant that hadn’t been changed in years.
It’s not an uncommon story. Bad coolant can cause corrosion inside your engine, clog radiator passages, damage the water pump, and more. One small problem snowballs into a big one. And when that happens, the tow truck is usually the next stop on your journey.
Signs Your Coolant Needs Attention
There are a few red flags to watch out for:
- Your engine temperature gauge is creeping higher than normal
- You notice a sweet, syrupy smell under the hood (a sign of a leak)
- The coolant in your reservoir looks rusty, sludgy, or unusually low
- Your heater isn’t blowing warm air in the winter (it’s related!)
If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to get things checked out—ideally before you end up calling us for a tow.
How Often Should You Change Your Coolant?
It depends on the vehicle, but a good rule of thumb is every 2 to 5 years, or every 50,000 to 100,000 kilometers. Some modern coolants last longer, especially in newer cars, but it’s always smart to follow the schedule in your owner’s manual. Mechanics can also test your coolant to see if it’s still effective.
Oh, and don’t just top it off with water. That throws off the chemical balance and dilutes its protective properties. Use the right mix, and the right type, for your vehicle. Your local auto parts shop or mechanic can help with that if you’re not sure.
Coolant Mishaps We’ve Seen on the Job
Working in towing, we see a pattern: cars and trucks overheating on long road trips, especially in summer. One customer had just left Melbourne for a camping trip in Victoria when their old 4WD overheated halfway up a steep incline. Turned out the radiator was full of gunk and the coolant hadn’t been flushed in over six years. The result? Burnt-out radiator hoses, a damaged thermostat, and a long, expensive delay in the holiday plans.
We’ve also had cases where drivers unknowingly filled the radiator with the wrong type of coolant—some types can’t be mixed—and it turned into a sludge that blocked the system entirely.
Why It Matters (Even If You’re Not a Gearhead)
You don’t have to be a mechanic to care about your engine’s health. Taking a few minutes to check your coolant levels—or asking your mechanic to during your next service—can save you hundreds, even thousands, in repair bills. It also helps your car run better and more efficiently, especially in extreme temperatures.
And if the worst happens and you do break down? Well, we’re always just a phone call away. But trust us when we say: we’d rather see you cruising safely than overheating on the shoulder.
Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference. A little attention to your coolant today might be the reason you don’t need a tow tomorrow. Keep it topped up, keep it clean, and you’ll keep rolling.
If you are in Campbellfield, and looking for a nearby towing service, this is the best way to visit us.
Reservoir Towing
58 Anstey Ave, Reservoir VIC 3073
(03) 7046 4990
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