What are the uses of antifreeze?
3 Answers
Antifreeze serves the following purposes: 1. Used in the cooling systems of various vehicles and mechanical equipment, it has multiple functions such as antifreeze, anti-boil, anti-corrosion, and anti-scale. 2. Made with distilled water and containing anti-scale additives, it not only prevents scale buildup but also has descaling capabilities. 3. It prevents the coolant from freezing and cracking the radiator or damaging the engine cylinder block or head when the vehicle is parked in cold winter conditions. 4. Ordinary water is the biggest enemy of cooling systems and engines. Antifreeze provides antifreeze protection in winter, anti-boil protection in summer, and year-round anti-scale and anti-corrosion properties. 5. Antifreeze has anti-corrosion functions. The engine's cooling system includes several metals such as steel, aluminum alloy, cast iron, copper, and solder used in radiator welding. The deionized water and appropriate additives in antifreeze can prevent various types of corrosion.
As someone with over twenty years of driving experience, I've found that antifreeze has many uses. Its primary task is to prevent the coolant from freezing in winter, as ice expansion can crack the radiator or engine components. During high summer temperatures, it raises the boiling point to prevent overheating and boiling over, otherwise the engine can easily overheat and stall. Corrosion prevention is also crucial, protecting aluminum and iron components in the engine from rusting; it also lubricates the water pump bearings, reducing wear; and efficiently transfers heat to cool the engine quickly. This stuff requires attention year-round—I replace it every other year with fresh fluid, checking the concentration ratio, with a 50% water and 50% antifreeze mix being the safest bet. Over time, it can deposit scale, affecting cooling efficiency. Don’t skimp on this small expense—using good-quality antifreeze can extend your car's lifespan.
I'm used to urban life driving a new SUV, and coolant is crucial for daily commuters like me. Freeze and boil protection is fundamental to prevent the car from freezing in cold weather or breaking down in hot weather. It also resists corrosion to protect the internal metal of the engine and lubricates the water pump; it helps dissipate heat to prevent engine overheating. I currently use green organic acid-based coolant, which is said to offer longer protection. Regularly replacing and testing the freezing point is quite simple—I change it when the onboard system prompts me. From a safety perspective, lacking it could lead to sudden failures; before long summer trips, I always check to ensure the concentration is normal for peace of mind.
