Key takeaways:
- Antifreeze is a concentrate based on ethylene glycol.
- Engine coolant is essentially diluted antifreeze.
- Both work to lower your car’s freezing point and raise its boiling point.
- Antifreeze offers a lower freezing point than a 50/50 coolant mixture.
- Engine coolant is more suitable for mild year-round temperatures.
Radiator fluid, engine coolant, and antifreeze. These are all terms passed around interchangeably to describe the liquid used in your car’s radiator to keep the engine cool. However, there are some variations between them that you should be aware of.
This blog post will delve into the ins and outs of coolant and antifreeze and help you decide which one is the best fit for your car!
What Is Antifreeze?
As you can probably guess, this fabulous fluid got its name because it helps to prevent the liquid coolant from freezing inside your engine, blocking the radiator fluid circulation, & damaging it in cold climates!
How does it do this? Antifreeze lowers the freezing point of water, which means it can still circulate through your radiator and keep your engine cool even when the temperature outside is below freezing. It also raises the boiling point of water, which prevents the coolant from turning to steam in the engine’s cooling system in hot weather.
Antifreeze is usually sourced from ethylene glycol and typically comes in bright green (although it can also be yellow, pink, or blue depending on the technology used). You can find it at any auto parts store; most mechanics will use it when they service your radiator.
What Is Engine Coolant?
Contrary to popular belief, engine coolant isn’t a separate fluid from antifreeze. Specifically, it’s antifreeze distilled with water and some other ingredients, like rust inhibitors. The mixture is usually about 50/50, give or take a few percentage points.
This fluid type cools your engine by running through radiator hoses and then back. The radiator contains metal fins that help to dissipate the heat before the fluid returns to do its job all over again.
Like with antifreeze, you can find engine coolant at any auto parts store or from most mechanics.
Why Use Antifreeze for Coolant?
Now that we know what antifreeze consists of, let’s look at why it’s used as radiator fluid.
The primary component of antifreeze is ethylene glycol, which has a low freezing point. This means that the concentration won’t freeze in cold weather, no matter how low the temperature outside is.
This is important because if the radiator coolant were to freeze, it would expand and cause the radiator to crack. In extreme cases, a cracked radiator can cause your engine to fail.
Antifreeze also has a high boiling point, which is vital because the fluid must withstand high temperatures without boiling over.
If this concentrate were to boil, it would leave your engine vulnerable to overheating.
Why Use Engine Coolant?
The distilled version of car coolant comes in different ratios, all designed to protect your radiator and engine in different ways.
The most common ratio is 50/50, a mix of 50{60302a704289ffbf97a4812255a0bc8a6f23097845ce08f1b9000776917131c2} distilled water and 50{60302a704289ffbf97a4812255a0bc8a6f23097845ce08f1b9000776917131c2} antifreeze concentrate. This radiator fluid offers the best protection against freezing and boiling. In a weird contradiction of its name, antifreeze has a higher freezing point than its distilled counterpart.
Therefore, it can protect your engine from freezing over in cold weather when mixed in the radiator.
Engine coolant is also ideal for protecting your radiator and engine from corrosion. This superb solution creates a barrier between the metal surfaces of your engine, preventing rust and other forms of degradation.
Antifreeze or Engine Coolant?
While they’re not precisely separate entities, antifreeze and engine coolant do have some key differences. And the question arises: when is the best time to use pure antifreeze, and when is it best to use engine coolant?
As with most car-related things, the answer is “it depends.” In general, a higher ratio of antifreeze will be a better choice in colder weather, while less will be better in hot weather.
However, in a city like Murrieta, where summers are hot and winters are mild, you might be better off using a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and engine coolant all year round. With this solution, you get the benefits of both fabulous fluids without worrying about changing them every time the seasons change.
If you’d like some more info on battling steamy overheating with coolant, Forbes offers valuable insights.
When Should I Change My Radiator Fluid?
While regular checkups should give you a clear idea of when your radiator coolant needs to be changed, most mechanics suggest changing it every 30,000 miles.
That said, let’s run through some signs that it might be time for a radiator fluid change sooner than that.
No. 1: Gauge Game
Your car’s temperature gauge is one of the easiest ways to know when you need a new radiator coolant. If it starts to inch closer to the hot end of things, that’s a sign that your radiator isn’t doing its job as well as it should be.
No. 2: Puddle Problem
Orange or green fluid pooling underneath your car shows a big fat fluid leak. Not only does this mean you’re low on coolant, but it could also be a sign of a bigger problem. Check the hoses connecting your radiator to your engine for any cracks or leaks and get them fixed as soon as possible.
No. 3: Not the Daily Grind
Grinding noises coming from under your car’s hood could spell radiator trouble. If your radiator fails, the metal components will start to break down and grind against each other. This noise will get louder and more frequent the longer you wait to fix the problem.
No. 4: Rusty Wreck
Does your coolant show a brown or rusty color? It’s time to change it. Coolant should be a bright color, so if you’re seeing anything else, it indicates that your radiator is rusting on the inside. This could lead to a significant failure down the road, so don’t wait to get it checked out.
No. 5: Bittersweet Bomb
Maple syrup belongs in pancakes, not emanating from your car. If you notice this scent, your radiator fluid has leaked and is now mixing with the engine oil. If left unchecked, this will cause extensive damage to your engine, so take it to a mechanic as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Car coolant and its types might not be everyone’s favorite topic, but it’s essential to be informed. Radiator fluid is key to keeping your car running smoothly, so make sure you know what kind you need. If you’re not sure about getting your coolant right, perhaps Lake Elsinore Honda, dedicated Honda dealership serving Murrieta, CA, can help!
If you’d like to know more about engine maintenance, check out our blog on avoiding engine overheating.
As always, we’re proud to serve Murrieta, CA, with radiator services and beyond.
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