What is the difference between engine coolant and antifreeze?

Friday 2nd September 2022

Antifreeze and coolant both have the same functions. However, they are made up of different elements.

What is engine coolant?

Engine coolant has one key role of ensuring the engine is at a preferred temperature. But Engine coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and distilled water, usually in a 50/50 ratio. It helps to keep your car cool to stop your engine from overheating.

What is antifreeze?

Antifreeze is a vital component of your vehicle during the winter months. But what is antifreeze, and how does it work?

Antifreeze is an ethylene glycol-based liquid that is added to a car’s engine cooling system to stop the water from freezing under cold weather conditions. The reason this works is because antifreeze does not freeze or boil easily.

Is coolant the same as antifreeze?

Though they are made up of different elements, they both have similar functions. Antifreeze reduces the freezing temperature of the liquid that circulates around the engine, which also raises the boiling point of engine coolant. Together, along with a pressurised system, they help to reduce the risk of overheating.

During the colder months, your vehicle can be exposed to harsher temperatures, which can create issues for the general running of your vehicle, especially the engine. Water that freezes in the engine cooling system can cause damage to the engine when it heats up. However, engine coolant lowers the freezing point of the water in your vehicle’s engine cooling system, which prevents the water from freezing during the chillier weather. Equally, antifreeze can be used to also increase the boiling point of your engine to prevent it from overheating. 

Why should I use antifreeze?

Antifreeze is an essential liquid for your car’s engine. If you don’t use antifreeze, you could have severe damage to your car’s radiator if the water freezes and overheats. This can particularly be the case since modern cooling systems are smaller with higher functioning pressures and temperatures than in older cars. As well as helping your car’s engine, this crucial additive also prevents scale from building up and protects against corrosion. This means it is extremely important to use the correct liquid for your car.

What coolant does my car need?

Deciding which antifreeze to use can be tricky, as there are lots of different types available. However, as a general rule, cars made after 1998 normally require an antifreeze that uses silicate-free, organic aid technology, also known as OAT. If you own a vehicle that has been made before 1998, they usually will need an engine coolant which does contain silicate and isn’t OAT-based.

Benefits of using engine coolant and antifreeze

There are many benefits of using coolant and antifreeze and that is why it has is a necessity for all vehicles. These benefits are:

• Protecting your engine from corrosion
• Aiding heat transfer
• Prevents car breakdowns
• Increasing the boiling point to prevent the engine from overheating
• Reduces downtime and maintenance costs

Unsure if your antifreeze or engine coolant is at the right strength or level? Our free Winter Safety Check will determine this for you, as well as checking other elements such as tyre pressure, wipers, washers and exhaust condition. Locate your nearest Formula One Autocentres today to book in for your free Winter Safety Check now.