Is Antifreeze The Same As Coolant? (Key Differences)
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Coolant helps to maintain the temperature of a motor engine. Without coolant in the engine, the engine would overheat, and that can result in other issues. Antifreeze does the same thing, but is antifreeze the same as coolant?
Antifreeze and coolant perform the same function; to keep the engine running at cool temperatures – never to overheat. However, antifreeze and coolant are not exactly the same type of liquid; they have different colors, and antifreeze is more concentrated than coolant.
It’s also worth mentioning that antifreeze is mostly used during the winter season – when winterizing a car, unlike coolant, which can be used at any time.
Here’s a detailed overview of how antifreeze is different from coolant!
Table of Contents
What is Antifreeze?
Antifreeze is a concentrated liquid that helps to prevent the water in your car engine’s cooling system from boiling (due to high temperature) or freezing (due to extreme cold temperatures). Actually, coolant is obtained by blending antifreeze with water.
Mostly, antifreeze is used in RVs, to keep the water lines from freezing during the winter season. It is also used in cars when winterizing a car for the winter season. Yes, you can pour antifreeze into your car’s cooling system.
What is Coolant?
Put simply, coolant is a liquid that is poured into a car – into a specific reservoir – to help regulate the temperature of the engine it is connected to. When the coolant level is low in a car, the engine tends to overheat, and that’s not advisable.
Every car uses coolant, which must be poured into the coolant reservoir. Coolant is not just water, it is a mixture of antifreeze and water. If you use water as a coolant, at extreme temperatures, the water would freeze or boil, and that could cause severe damages to the engine components.
Is Antifreeze The Same As Coolant?
They are the same, and not the same. What does that mean? It implies that antifreeze and coolant can be used interchangeably, but they are not the same liquid.
Yes, you can use them interchangeably because both help to prevent freezing due to cold temperatures and boiling due to extremely high temperatures.
But, in most cases, you don’t pour antifreeze into a car’s coolant system without diluting it with water. Mostly, the solution is 50% antifreeze and 50% water, before pouring it into the reservoir. Antifreeze is more concentrated than regular car coolant liquid; hence, it is diluted before use.
There are different types of coolants, and similarly, there are different types of antifreeze, too. Unlike coolant, antifreeze comes in different colors; the antifreeze liquid is either green, orange, or pink. Either of them can be poured into a car, but the best-recommended color is green.
Can I Put Antifreeze In My Engine Coolant?
Yes, you can pour antifreeze into the coolant reservoir; it won’t ruin anything.
Antifreeze and coolant perform the same function, which is to keep the engine and radiator cool regardless of the outside temperature. Even so, most coolants in the markets are advertised as coolant/antifreeze.
Actually, antifreeze possesses some special ingredients that make it different from typical coolants. Regardless, using it in your car is very safe; it is even the best to use during the winter season, to prevent freezing. You can buy it from different stores that sell automotive products.
Conclusion: Antifreeze vs Coolant
So, is antifreeze the same as coolant? They are practically the same, but not physically the same. Coolant is mostly a solution gotten from blending water and antifreeze.
You shouldn’t let your car with low, or no coolant. If your coolant is finished, you can use antifreeze, but ensure to dilute the antifreeze. You can pour in antifreeze into the same tank you add coolant.
