Importance of Antifreeze and Coolants

The most strenuous season for car owners is the winter season. The drop in temperatures can seize a car’s engine, negatively impacting its performance—leading to expensive repairs. There are times when people might need to scrap their cars entirely, but there is a solution to avoid this – Antifreeze and Coolant.

Many think that antifreeze and coolant are the same, but are they really?

What is Antifreeze?

Antifreeze is an Ethylene Glycol based liquid that is difficult to boil or freeze, commonly used to decrease the freezing point of the fluid that flows in the engine of the vehicle. It prevents the liquid from freezing during the decreasing temperatures of the winter. Apart from this, it can also halt raising the fluid’s boiling point, so it doesn’t evaporate. It also keeps the engine’s internal parts lubricated and running smoothly.

What is Coolant?

Engine Coolant/Radiator Coolant is formed when an antifreeze and distilled water are mixed. It is more of a diluted version of an Antifreeze. It is usually a half and half, i.e., 50:50 concentration of water, and a concentrated variant, i.e., antifreeze. However, some can be made up from more water – 70:30 water and antifreeze split up. The 70:30 split-ups are usually designed to help with corrosion and are a little expensive compared to the 50:50 ratio. Most engine coolants in USA are made with a 70:30 ratio of water and antifreeze.

Colors of Antifreeze:

The two most common colors of antifreeze are Green and Orange. The orange antifreeze represents “extended life” as it lasts longer than the green antifreeze because of its different types of Corrosion inhibitors. Therefore, the antifreeze with the most long-term effect is the orange one.

Colors of Coolant:

The colors of Engine Coolant can vary from Green to Blue to Pink. However, the same shade of Antifreeze and Coolant color green can cause confusion.

Is antifreeze the same as coolant?

Although there are two different colors of antifreeze, neither type is the same as the coolant. They should be mixed with water, preferably distilled water, to produce coolant. Distilled water differentiates between an Antifreeze and an Engine Coolant by turning an antifreeze into a coolant to effectively perform its tasks: preventing overheating and freezing of fluids and liquids within a vehicle’s engine.

Can Antifreeze Go Directly into The Engine Coolant?

Once mixed with distilled water, you can pour antifreeze into the same place as the Engine Coolant. It will then go around the engine and mix with your coolant to ensure that the fluids do not freeze.

How is Driving with Low Coolant Levels Risky?

One must check their Coolant Level frequently or routinely and top it off if necessary since the cars’ engines can overheat and become severely damaged if the level drops extremely low. However, the car’s cooling system is designed to keep the engine from overheating by flowing coolants through the radiator.

Most Common Mistake:

  • Adding more coolant is not enough- coolants must be flushed out and refilled to prevent deposits from building up and avoid corrosion, as various deposits can clog and cause problems in the radiator.
  • The most common mistake people make is adding and mixing the two different colors of antifreeze (orange and green) instead of counting and mixing them with water separately, i.e., green separately with distilled water and orange separately with distilled water.

Common Signs Your Engine Might Be Overheating:

Engine overheating can be very dangerous and can result in the breakdown of the car

  • Hearing strange noises from the engine
  • Coolant leaking from under the hood
  • The engine light might be on
  • The car’s dashboard’s temperature gauge reads way higher than average.

One should take immediate action if one notices anything of this sort.

KEY POINTS:

  • Antifreeze and Coolants help you with dealing with the overheating of the engines.
  • Antifreeze consists of Ethylene-Glycol and Coolant, a mixture of distilled water and antifreeze.
  • Coolants absorb the heat and evaporate it, while on the other hand, antifreeze ensures that the coolant doesn’t freeze in lower temperatures.
  • It is recommended to change the coolants frequently.
  • It is essential to mix the antifreeze with distilled water before using.
  • Do not get confused with the various colors of antifreeze and coolants.
  • Coolants are available in two ratios, 50:50 and 70:30, and 70:30 might be a little pricier.

Although both coolant and antifreeze can offer the same function, whether you purchase the concentrated or the pre-mixed variant is just the case.

Looking for the highest quality engine coolant or antifreeze? Head to American MFG today.