The UK has been plunged into winter and more cold weather is on the way, which means it's going to get frosty out there. Sub-zero temperatures mean icy car windscreens, which can be extremely annoying in the early hours of the morning when you need to set off to work - but they could just be the tip of the iceberg.
Cars need water in the radiator to run as it plays a vital part in cooling the engine, as pipes lace through the inside of your car to keep the vital parts cool. If you've ever noticed your radiator is running low, you may have just refilled it with water from the tap - but this can be a huge problem when the temperature drops.
The AA recommends you put a mixture of anti-freeze and water in the radiator, because if you just have water in there then it could freeze and expand, rupturing cooling pipes and in extreme cases even cracking your engine block.
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A spokesperson for the AA said: "Antifreeze is a liquid that's added to a car's engine cooling system. It stops the water from freezing under normal cold weather conditions.
"As well as lowering the freezing point, it also raises the boiling point of engine coolant. Along with a pressurised system, this helps to reduce the risk of overheating.
"Antifreeze is a concentrated product, normally based on glycol and containing inhibitors. Some types have to be diluted with water at a suitable concentration before you use it. The diluted liquid is usually called coolant.
"Modern car cooling systems are smaller, with higher operating temperatures and pressures than in the past. That means it's especially important to use the correct additive.
"If you don't use antifreeze, you could suffer serious damage to your car's radiator and other components if the water freezes or overheats. Water expands as it freezes which can spilt radiators or even break engine cases.
"This vital liquid helps your engine in other ways too. It prevents scale building up and protects against corrosion, helping to keep your car healthy."
As for windscreens - a frosty one isn't just an annoyance, but can actually land drivers with a £100 fine and three points on their licence.
Luckily, cold weather experts from Iceland, Lotus Car Rental, have revealed an incredibly clever and bizarre hack that should keep your windscreen from freezing over using a staple item from your kitchen.
The item in question, which costs about 12p from most supermarkets, is an onion.
According to the experts, onions can break down frost as soon as it forms on the window.
Simply cut an onion in half and rub it generously all over the windows and windscreen the night before you need to drive. This should stop frost from forming in the first place.
If you don't have an onion, a potato should work in the same way – and at least it won't make you cry in the process.
Vinegar works in the same way, so you could spray a vinegar solution mixed with water on your windscreen the night before.
The experts explain that vinegar is often "used as a de-icer because its freezing point is much lower than water's, meaning the water doesn't have the chance to settle and freeze on top of the vinegar".
If using vegetables doesn't appeal to you, there are a few other tricks and tips you could try out.
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