What is the difference between car coolant and antifreeze?
2 Answers
1. Different applicable seasons: Coolant refers to the liquid that can cool down the engine, which can be water or antifreeze. Water is limited by seasons; antifreeze is suitable for all seasons, with high quality and guaranteed performance. 2. Different applicable regions: Coolant is suitable for the south; antifreeze is suitable for the north. Here are the detailed introductions: 1. The freezing point of engine coolant should generally be 10-15°C lower than the local minimum temperature to avoid failure. 2. The freezing point of antifreeze coolant is best about 15° lower than the local minimum temperature to ensure the antifreeze coolant remains effective even in extreme weather conditions.
Many people think coolant and antifreeze are the same, but they're actually like siblings—very similar yet different. As an average car owner who's driven for years, I've noticed during routine maintenance that coolant is the mixed liquid in the entire system, used to help the engine dissipate heat. It typically contains antifreeze and water. As for antifreeze? That's the concentrated stuff specifically designed to prevent freezing and corrosion, especially in winter to protect the car from freezing damage. The key difference is that antifreeze is a pure liquid—you need to mix it with water yourself to create coolant. For example, if you buy a bottle of antifreeze from the store labeled "50/50 mix," it means you should dilute it with an equal amount of water to make coolant. Using only antifreeze or improper coolant mixtures can cause the engine to overheat or even crack. My neighbor's car last winter cost over a thousand dollars to repair because they used the wrong mixture. So now I check regularly to ensure the right ratio. Actually, most brands sell them as matching sets, so don't worry too much about complexity. Regular replacement can extend your car's lifespan.
