Are Antifreeze and Coolant the Same Thing?
2 Answers
Antifreeze and coolant are not exactly the same. Below are the differences between coolant and antifreeze: 1. Antifreeze is not entirely equivalent to coolant. Coolant is equal to water plus antifreeze. Water is a very low-grade coolant and is also subject to seasonal limitations, meaning antifreeze includes coolant, but coolant does not include antifreeze. 2. Typically, engine coolant (antifreeze) needs to be replaced every two to three years. If you choose a higher-quality coolant and there are no leaks in the engine cooling system, the replacement interval can be extended. When you notice a shortage of coolant, take it to a professional shop to test with a refractometer. If the freezing point of the coolant remains below -30°C, replacement is unnecessary. When replacing antifreeze, ensure it is completely drained, and avoid mixing it with water or other brands of antifreeze. 3. The boiling point of pure water under normal temperature and pressure is 100°C. Once the engine temperature becomes too high, the cooling water will boil and turn into steam. The heat convection coefficient of water in a gaseous state is much lower than in a liquid state, so gaseous steam can hardly dissipate the engine's heat. The components in antifreeze help cool the engine, thereby preventing issues like overheating to a certain extent.
I've been driving trucks for over 20 years, so I know this perfectly well. Antifreeze and coolant are essentially the same thing, just different names people use. You see that green or pink liquid in the reservoir - it prevents the radiator from freezing and cracking in winter while helping cool the engine in summer. The key component is ethylene glycol, which both lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point. But I must remind you, different colors mean different formulations, so it's best to change it regularly as specified in your vehicle's manual. Remember when my old rig's radiator got clogged last time? That was due to not changing the coolant for too long, cost me over 800 bucks in repairs for nothing.
