Counterfeit is not always bad
However, not all experts believe that high-quality non-freezing must necessarily be expensive. “The fact is that counterfeit antifreeze will not always be worse. The best (from a technical point of view) anti-freeze is made on the basis of methyl alcohol - methanol. But this is how only counterfeit glass liquid is made in Russia - due to the toxicity of methanol. And, indeed, if you drink it or sniff it for a long time, then yes, the methanol washer is much more dangerous. After all, it is not easy to accidentally inhale it - except if you spill it in a closed car interior. By itself, methanol is even less toxic than ethanol, poisoning is caused by a product of its metabolism in the liver, metaldehyde. It is indeed a powerful poison. But it accumulates in sufficient quantities only if there is a lot of methanol, and the body cannot cope with the further processing of metaldehyde. This only happens if you drink methanol. Having inhaled vapors, it is almost impossible to create such a concentration. In general - do not drink anti-freeze! Better than none,” he told the correspondent of “MIR 24” biophysicist, leading expert of the Institute of Biology of Aging, director of science at Kriorus LLC Igor Artyukhov.
So what, methanol was banned for use in washer fluids just because there were lovers to taste it? Alas, this is true.
According to the expert, in Europe, the USA and Canada, methanol is actively used as a windshield washer fluid, however, with a regulated content of no more than 20%. As for prices, according to the analytics department of the Uphill appraisal company, the cost of methyl alcohol is 2-3 times lower than that of isopropyl alcohol. “At the same time, I want to note that in terms of chemical properties, methanol is more effective than isopropyl,” says Leo Salts.– Methanol has the highest (among monohydric alcohols) detergency and high fluidity even at low temperatures. Moreover, comparing methanol-ethanol-isopropyl, we can say that the latter is the least effective. Ethanol, on the other hand, did not gain popularity due to the mandatory excise tax, which forms the final cost of the washer fluid too high.
We choose a high-quality non-freeze.
The main components from which antifreeze is produced are alcohol and water. It depends on the proportion in which they are mixed and whether the liquid will freeze or not. The current market situation is forcing manufacturers to use low-quality raw materials for their products. And therefore, it will not be superfluous to recall what types of alcohol anti-freeze is made from.
Types of non-freezing liquids.
There are three main types of antifreeze liquids. Accordingly, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's talk about them in more detail.
Liquid based on methanol (methyl alcohol). Of all the substances that will be described here, its concentration in the air is the minimum value. And this means that only from its vapors you can get poisoning of the body or visual impairment. That is why methanol is banned in Russia.
Vapors of methyl alcohol can cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract, as well as lead to headaches. It has been fully proven that constant contact with methanol leads to bronchitis and asthma. And with severe poisoning, death of a person is also possible.
In addition, methyl alcohol destroys the rubber bands of the windshield wipers. Such a liquid practically does not remove dirt on an unheated windshield, but only smears it.
But many manufacturers who are not clean at hand still use methyl alcohol in production, because it is much cheaper than other components.So how can you distinguish a methanol-based anti-freeze from others? The best way is by smell. Methanol is odorless, and this should already alert.
Antifreeze based on isopropyl alcohol. Today, isopropyl is the most popular ingredient in the production of antifreeze liquids. It does not corrode the elements of the system, and its concentration in the substance is completely harmless to health. Isopropyl has a very strong and unpleasant smell, reminiscent of acetone, so it can be distinguished from low-quality methanol liquids.
Ethanol based liquid. Essentially the same vodka, but without the smell. Vapors of ethanol alcohol in no way affect the well-being of a person. Ethanol-based antifreeze is the best option to buy, however, due to its high cost, the substance is not popular with windshield washer fluid manufacturers.
What to look for when choosing an anti-freeze. The main function that this windshield washer fluid should have is not to freeze at sub-zero temperatures.
However, many motorists complain that the antifreeze freezes after filling it into the washer reservoir. But the reason here is that not everyone uses such compounds correctly and ignores information about the use. And on the packaging of the product, in black and white, instructions for use should be written, which states at what temperature liquid can be poured
The main function that this windshield washer fluid should have is not to freeze at sub-zero temperatures. However, many motorists complain that the antifreeze freezes after filling it into the washer reservoir. But the reason here is that not everyone uses such compounds correctly and ignores information about the use. And on the packaging of the product, in black and white, instructions for use should be written, which states at what temperature the liquid can be poured.
In addition to the fact that the substance should not freeze, it should have one more quality, and, probably, the most important one - it should wash glass. And wash it cleanly without leaving traces of dirt and soap stains.
And water in this aspect is completely unsuitable, because road dirt is not only the dirt itself, to which everyone is accustomed. There are also particles of burnt fuel and car oil, and to wash off all this "cocktail", you need a good organic solvent. In addition, so that after rinsing the glass is not covered with an ice crust, the composition of the anti-freeze should include substances that will facilitate the evaporation of alcohol and water.
A short video about the choice of antifreeze fluid.
Summarize. To choose the right anti-freeze, you need to remember that it should not freeze at sub-zero temperatures, it should not leave soap stains and dirt on the glass, and the presence of methanol is unacceptable. Following these rules, you can choose a quality product that will help keep the glass clean and will not harm your health.
What is a coolant and what should it be
The coolant in a liquid heating system is the substance by which heat is transferred from the boiler to the radiators. Our systems use water or special antifreeze liquids as a heat carrier. When choosing, you must be guided by several criteria:
- Safety. From time to time, heating leaks or they require maintenance and repair. In order for the repair work not to be dangerous, the coolant must be harmless.
- Harmless to components of the heating system.
- Must have a high heat capacity to transfer heat efficiently.
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Have a long service life.
Given these requirements, the most suitable liquid for the heating system is water. It is safe, harmless, has a high heat capacity, and the lines of operation are unlimited.But in those heating systems where there is a high probability of downtime in winter, water can do a disservice. If it freezes, it will burst pipes and/or radiators. Therefore, antifreeze is used in such systems. At negative temperatures, they lose their fluidity, but the equipment does not tear. So from this point of view, it is easy to choose a coolant for a heating system: if the system is always under supervision and in working order, you can use water. If a temporary residence (dacha) or it can be left unattended for a long time (business trips, winter holidays), if frequent and / or long power outages are possible in the region, it is better to fill in antifreeze into the system.
What is anti-freeze liquid made of?
We asked a specialist of the Serkons group of companies, the largest Russian market representative in the field of confirming compliance with technical regulations of various special tools, liquids, oils and lubricants.
“In general, antifreeze for cars consists of alcohol, water and surfactants, and some manufacturers add flavors and dyes to it,” says Certification Expert of GC Sercons Mikhail Ivanisov. – There are several varieties of alcohol, the quality of which affects the final characteristics of the product. Thus, ethyl alcohol is the safest for consumers in terms of its chemical composition. However, this component significantly increases the cost of antifreeze, so not all manufacturers use it.”
According to Mikhail Ivanisov, along with ethyl alcohol, isopropyl and methyl alcohol are widely used in production. These components have a negative effect on the consumer and the environment, and they are unlikely to pass laboratory testing. In addition, methanol has been officially banned since 2019, so it is natural that its analogue, isopropyl alcohol, is now growing in popularity.
“You need to understand that when buying anti-freeze “from hand”, you may encounter an extremely toxic compound that can damage both you and your car. I recommend purchasing such funds only in specialized stores, ”the expert said.
Where to buy anti-freeze and how expensive differs from cheap
So what happens - can you safely buy a counterfeit anti-freeze? Is it cheaper, and sometimes even better quality? Yet no, experts say. After all, no company that checks the composition of products will give a quality certificate for something that is produced in violation of the law. This means that you will not be able to distinguish an “honest” anti-freeze made on the basis of methanol from one that contains substances that are really hazardous to health.
Therefore, just make a rule for yourself: buy an anti-freeze only where there is an intermediate link between you and the manufacturer in the form of a trading company that checks the quality of products. “When buying antifreeze fluid at official points of sale, gas station chains, large retail chains, the risk of purchasing counterfeit products is clearly reduced,” says Lev Salts. “When buying “off the road”, there is a high probability of purchasing counterfeit or too diluted liquid.”
What is the difference between cheap antifreeze and expensive ones? If you compare them in the same store, then theoretically the price depends on the composition. “The more expensive the anti-freeze, the higher the isopropyl content and the ability to retain its useful properties at extremely low temperatures,” the expert says. – The quality of fragrances also plays a role. Quality flavors cost more.”
In addition, the relationship between price and quality is not always direct. Branded anti-freezes in opaque specialized containers will always be more expensive than non-branded ones, which are sold in standard transparent five-liter canisters.At the same time, they can be almost identical in composition.
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It also matters whether you buy a washer in advance, in a supermarket or at a gas station. After all, if you arrived there with a dry washer tank, then you still buy the liquid, even if it turns out to be more expensive. This is what sellers use.
The cheapest and at the same time quite high-quality non-freezing liquids with a certificate can most often be bought in supermarkets and hypermarkets. There, the price for them can start from 150 rubles for a five-liter canister. But at large network gas stations with shops, antifreeze will almost always be more expensive. The price for it will be from 250 rubles, if the liquid is displayed on the street, up to 500 rubles - in the store. Sometimes concentrate is also sold for the same money. Do not confuse - it must be bred water in certain proportions, and just this option often turns out to be quite budgetary.
Here are some rules for the buyer:
- Never buy anti-freeze directly on the road - there you risk acquiring a hazardous or too diluted liquid.
- Do not chase expensive non-freezing, in terms of quality it may turn out to be worse than the budget one.
- If you want to save money, then buy a washer in advance, better in supermarkets and hypermarkets. It's often cheaper there.
- Read the ingredients on the label. The greater the content of isopropyl in the liquid, the higher its antifreeze properties.
- Feel free to ask the seller for a quality certificate for the products.
- Try to buy the same brand. If the liquid once satisfied you in terms of quality, then it is better not to experiment.
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