The antifreeze – or coolant – in the engine of your petrol-powered vehicle is somewhat like the air humans breathe. It’s taken for granted until there isn’t any, then bad things happen.

CARS.COM — When is the right time to change your engine coolant? For some vehicles, you’re advised to change the coolant every 30,000 miles. For others, changing it isn’t even on the ...

Antifreeze isn't just to prevent your radiator from freezing. It can also raise the boiling point of liquid to prevent it from bubbling over in hot weather.

Adding coolant to car | Cars.com illustration by Paul Dolan As engines get very hot, coolant helps distribute heat to help prevent overheating and engine damage.

Sometimes, your car's engine could lose coolant without signs of external leaks. The worst-case scenario is an internal coolant leak where the engine could burn coolant, oil, or both.