Scotty Kilmer shares common maintenance mistake that could cause expensive problems
Scotty Kilmer, a well-known mechanic, has warned drivers to check one detail before adding coolant to their car to prevent damaged and clogged components.
One of YouTube's most popular mechanics has told drivers how they can avoid making an easy mistake that could lead to serious issues under the bonnet.
Scotty Kilmer has been working on cars for more than 55 years and regularly posts videos in which he gives advice to viewers to help them save money on their motoring bills and buy a dependable car.
In one of his latest videos, Scotty suggests that drivers should always choose the correct coolant for their car, stating that there are two main types.
He explained: "Today I'm going to tell you why you want to put the right coolant in your car. These are called Oat Coolants, Organic Acid Technology. The old green stuff was actually Inorganic Acid Technology, or IAT.
"Now, you don't want to mix the old green IAT with any of the modern ones, for most modern coolants it will just say 'for modern vehicles' and it's perfectly fine for most cars."
According to Scotty, most modern vehicles will accept the latest OAT kind of coolant, which is both more environmentally friendly to produce and can typically last longer before needing to be changed.
However, under no circumstance should drivers mix the two kinds of coolant in their vehicle at once, which will dilute both types of substance.
Whilst both types of coolant aim to prevent overheating and rust, they both have completely different ingredients, making one another far less efficient when mixed.
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Scotty also recommended that drivers check to see if their car is compatible with the type of coolant they are planning to buy, stating that some manufacturers need specific kinds.
He advised: "Always look up what your car needs. Volkswagens use a special type of coolant. You want to stick to that in a Volkswagen because, if you mix the wrong coolant in your car, it might not get enough freeze protection [in the winter] and sometimes it will actually glob up, creating a mess and clogging up your whole cooling system.
"So, when you're buying coolant, just read the bottle. Make sure your model is included."
Moreover, drivers should always avoid simply topping up the radiator of their vehicle with water, in place of proper coolant.
Whilst using water will help to cool the engine down in the short term, water does not contain any ingredients that can help to prevent rust within the cooling system, meaning parts can very easily get damaged.
In addition, during the colder months, water is much more likely to freeze over, making the car immobile until the cooling system has thawed.
