Cold Protection and Antifreeze: Is Your Engine Ready?

Recently, affected by a strong cold air mass, rain and snow have appeared in many parts of the country, and temperatures in most of northern China have dropped below freezing, taking many people by surprise. Low-temperature freezing damage can easily harm the engine. For many regions this is the first snowfall of winter and the first time temperatures have dropped below freezing, and many people even fail to change their lubricating oil in time, which more easily leads to engine problems. Besides driving carefully in rain and snow, engine oil should also be checked in time to take good care of the engine, said a Kunlun Lubrication expert.

Slow starts with long warm-ups to prevent cylinder scoring
The sudden sharp drop in temperature is a great challenge for vehicle engines. So which parts of the engine is low-temperature freezing damage most likely to harm? The Kunlun Lubrication expert answered our questions.

At low temperatures, engine oil becomes thicker and its flowability deteriorates, directly affecting the operation of the engine. The engine takes longer to warm up, combustion is poor, and engine output power decreases while fuel consumption increases. In addition, at low temperatures the wear on the main assemblies is relatively great: during an engine's service cycle, 50 percent of cylinder wear occurs during the starting process, while winter starting wear accounts for 60 to 70 percent of total starting wear. After a cold start, until normal temperature is reached, the intensity of engine wear remains very high, and the cylinders are easily scored.

Slow starts and long warm-ups are a good suggestion for winter driving. In addition, it is best to choose engine oil with a lower viscosity grade and good antifreeze performance. A good lubricant, such as Kunlun Tianrun high-grade gasoline engine oil, has smooth flowability that allows the engine to start instantly; even at temperatures as low as minus 20 or 30 degrees Celsius, the oil can still flow quickly to the top of the engine after ignition, providing the best protection for the engine and significantly reducing fuel oil consumption.

Replacing the three filters and professional servicing
Besides changing the engine oil, the most basic and most frequent maintenance for a car is replacing the three filters. Under normal conditions, the air filter should be cleaned and serviced every 6,000 to 8,000 km, the fuel filter is generally replaced every 2,000 to 3,000 km, and the oil filter is simpler and can be replaced together with the engine oil when the oil is changed. In addition, Kunlun experts remind everyone driving in winter to make sure that rain and snow do not get into the battery, in case the battery is damaged, and that regularly cleaning the radiator and removing rust and scale not only keeps the engine working normally but also extends the service life of the engine and the radiator.

Moreover, careful maintenance of the engine will also produce twice the result with half the effort. Kunlun experts suggest choosing a professional vehicle servicing organization, for which both auto 4S stores and professional vehicle servicing centers are ideal options. Kunlun's fast oil change centers, relying on a professional servicing expert team and the servicing philosophy of maintenance instead of repair, focus on engine maintenance and provide consumers with all-round vehicle servicing. Their service is comprehensive and their prices are more economical than those of 4S stores, making them an ideal place for servicing your car.