Are Antifreeze and Coolant the Same for Cars?
2 Answers
Cars' antifreeze and coolant are not the same; there are subtle differences. The reasons are as follows: Antifreeze, whose full name is antifreeze coolant, is a type of coolant containing special additives, mainly used in liquid-cooled engine cooling systems. On the other hand, coolant has a very broad range, referring to any liquid that can cool down the engine. Coolant can be ordinary water or antifreeze. More details about antifreeze are as follows: 1. Antifreeze is suitable for all seasons, featuring properties such as freeze protection, boil-over protection, scale prevention, and corrosion resistance. Currently, over 95% of antifreeze products worldwide are water-based ethylene glycol antifreeze. 2. Compared to tap water, the most notable characteristic of ethylene glycol is its freeze protection. Additionally, ethylene glycol has a high boiling point, low volatility, moderate viscosity, minimal changes with temperature, and excellent thermal stability. Therefore, ethylene glycol-based antifreeze is an ideal coolant.
I've been driving for twenty years, and this question often comes up. To put it simply, antifreeze and coolant are essentially the same thing, just like how we call it 'mantou' or 'mo'—different names for the same item. Antifreeze used in winter mainly prevents the engine from freezing, while coolant in summer manages heat dissipation, but both are essentially a mix of ethylene glycol and water. The key point is never to mix different colors—last time, a buddy of mine mixed red and green to save trouble, and it completely clogged the radiator. This stuff must be checked every year before winter. In the north, it's best to choose a type rated for -25°C or below, while in the south, a standard type will do.
