Is antifreeze the same as coolant?

Engine coolant, also known as antifreeze, is mixed with water to keep the radiator from freezing in extreme cold and overheating in extreme heat. There are many different types of coolant, so it's important to know what variety is right for your car or truck.

Can I use antifreeze instead of coolant?

Well, antifreeze and engine coolant are similar, but not the same. Antifreeze is a concentrated, glycol-based liquid that must be diluted with water before use – at which point it is referred to as coolant.

Does my car need coolant or antifreeze?

As the name suggests, coolant/antifreeze is necessary to reduce the freezing point of your engine's cooling system and raise the temperature at which the system will boil when compared to water alone. The boiling point of water is 100-degrees C.

Is engine coolant the same as radiator coolant?

At Sweeney Buick-GMC, we often get asked what is the difference between engine coolant and radiator coolant? No difference exists between these two names, as the fluid within both are the same. In fact, the radiator cools the engine coolant after it runs through the engine.

Can I just top up my coolant?

To top up your engine's coolant, you can simply open the reservoir cap (be careful the engine is not too hot and use a cloth wrapped around the cap to open it, as there could be some residual pressure left in the system) and add to the fluid level – what you use to do this is very important though.

Coolant vs. Antifreeze

What are the signs of low coolant?

Can you drive with low coolant?

To ensure the engine stays at an optimal operating temperature, your car relies on a fluid called antifreeze, or engine coolant. Driving with low coolant could let your engine get too hot, which usually spells trouble for your engine, your vehicle, and your journey!

Can you mix antifreeze and coolant?

It's never a good idea to mix two different colors or types of antifreeze. Mixing two formulas won't cause any dangerous reactions or explosions, but it could turn your coolant into a sludgy chemical mixture that won't be able to flow properly through your cooling system.

Does it matter what coolant I put in my car?

Well, you use the coolant that is specified in your owner's manual. If you just need to top it up, the recommendation is still the same, however it is unlikely to cause any serious problems if you add a litre of a different type of coolant, as long as you follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule.

What coolant should I put in my car?

For most vehicles, a glycol based antifreeze coolant is the best type of coolant to be used in any vehicle radiator. However, using the glycol based antifreeze alone is usually not a good idea. In most cases, you will need to mix the glycol based antifreeze with a certain amount of water.

How often should I put antifreeze in my car?

A typical mechanic will recommend changing coolant every 30,000 miles. But many will tell you, changing the coolant is not even on their radar. An owner's manual might recommend changing the coolant/antifreeze after the first 60,000 miles, then every 30,000 miles.

How long can a car run without coolant?

However, if you absolutely must start your car without coolant, it can probably run for about a minute without too much risk of damage. You may be able to get away with as much as 5 minutes of running without coolant, depending on the engine, car model, and how hard you're asking the engine to work.

What happens if I don't add water to antifreeze?

3 is that water must be mixed with the antifreeze-coolant in order to keep the performance additives (silicates, phosphates and nitrates) suspended. Without water, these important additives tend to settle. If they do that, you lose anti-corrosion and other additive protection.

Does the color of antifreeze matter?

The truth is, color is not a reliable predictor for what type of coolant you have.

What do the different colors of antifreeze mean?

The color of healthy engine coolant is green (for ethylene glycol) or orange (for Dexcool). A rusty color indicates that the rust inhibitor in the coolant has broken down and it can no longer control rust and scale buildup.

Is there a warning light for low coolant?

The most common reason for the coolant light to become illuminated is simply that the coolant level is too low. There may be a floating sensor in your coolant tank that triggers the warning light when the level drops.

Do you put antifreeze in the coolant tank?

Does antifreeze go in the engine coolant? Once mixed with water, you simply pour antifreeze into the same place as the engine coolant: the expansion tank, or reservoir. It will then filter 'round the engine and mix with your coolant to make sure the liquid does not freeze.

What color is antifreeze coolant?

Fresh antifreeze is a clear brightly coloured liquid, usually blue, red, green, violet, yellow or orange but this will vary depending on the manufacturer's formulation. Over time, your coolant will become dirty losing its colour and becoming darker, often an oxidized shade of brown.

Can you top off coolant with a different brand?

The short answer is that you can mix different coolant brands and mixtures as long as they are the same type of coolant. The color doesn't matter as much since it's just a dye.

Can I use bottled water for coolant?

If you don't have coolant available, you should top up your radiator with the highest quality water that you have. Ideally, this would be distilled water. You can also use bottled water or tap water.

Can you put normal water in coolant?

Technically speaking yes you can use plain water in your cooling system but it isn't recommended as a long term solution and certainly not in extreme weather conditions. The problem with using water in your cooling system is that water freezes at 0°C.

How do I add antifreeze to my car?

If your engine is cold, the coolant level should be up to the cold fill line. Loosen the reservoir cap just a little, then step back while the pressure releases. Then, remove the cap completely. If the coolant level is low, add the correct coolant to the reservoir (not the radiator itself).

How many bottles of antifreeze does it take to fill a radiator?

Most cooling systems will hold around 5 litres. DIY Car Service Parts sell engine coolant in 1-20 litre containers, so you can purchase the exact amount that you need. Follow these simple steps to replace your engine coolant.

Why is my radiator full but reservoir empty?

When the overflowing coolant reservoir does not return to the radiator the hot coolant that needs to be cooled down, means that there might be a leakage or clog of the radiator hoses that allow the flow of fluid from the coolant reservoir to the radiator. It can be a result of a damaged radiator cap.