Forum:
is there a difference between coolent and antifreeze.
ive been told to 50/50 mix coolent in my radiator a few times but all i can find is antifreeze.
it this the same and does it provide better heat removal or is it just to protect against rust etc.
this is what i can find batoyle mono ethylene glycol antifreeze.
Here you have to be careful,
Here you have to be careful, anti-freeze is concentrated and designed to be mixed with water in your cooling system.
Coolant is already pre-mixed anti freeze and water, and nothing more than a gimic for idle and unknowledgeable people.
I prefer using anti freeze as water costs nothing, so why pay more for a coolant than anti-freeze, you are paying a premium for nothing more than water. They make bold claims about the water used in these coolants, but you can achieve the same results very simply. Boil the kettle and tip it into a clean container and cool it in the fridge. When you come to change tour coolant simply use the boiled and cooled water to mix with your anti-freeze, same result.
anti freeze is the
anti freeze is the concentrate... diluteed with water its termed coolant.... it also has rust / corrosion inhibiting properties. i usually aim at 30% antifreeze to water... 50% gives frost protection to colder levels. but somerset doesnt get that cold. whilst the proper way is to drain old coolant flush and refil every winter. there are many engines that survive with being topped up with coolant with a drain and refil at longer intervals (several years)... usually when theve had a major leak and lost most of the coolant anyway.
Mix it yourself.
Go to a good motor shop. Tell them the make of your car and ask for antifreeze. Some antifreeze is for aluminium engines and some for cast iron engines. They will tell you exactly what type you need and how many litres you need for your vehicle. You decide the level of frost protection ... probably minus 20C to be safe.
Empty the car's radiator via the drain plug. Flush the radiator with a hose pipe and flush through the engine if you can access/pull any suitable engine coolant hose. Empty the radiator again and secure the drain plug and any disconnected hoses.
Mix the antifreeze as directed with sufficient water and fill the coolant reservior. Any surplus mixture can be poured direct into the radiator.
Next pour into the radiator the neat antifreeze quantity as directed by your motor shop/car service manual.
Top up with water until the level reaches the radiator cap. Fit the cap.
Run the engine.
Switch off/engine goes cold and again top up the radiator with water.
The result is known as 'coolant' .... antifreeze + water. Coolant is a rip-off - you are buying WATER plus antifreeze. Buy antifreeze and avoid paying for the water!
Richard: The recommended
Richard:
The recommended mixture for Daihatsu is a 50/50 mix, this is not for the frost protection it is for the corrosion inhibition.