When the heat created by an internal combustion engine builds up, it can cause numerous problems that are expensive to repair. This circulation of coolant is what runs the cooling system. There’s also a fan blowing on the radiator to cool it off.Ĭooled fluid moves back out of the radiator to the engine once again. As it goes through the radiator’s thin tubes, it gets cooled off because of the air coming through the front of the vehicle. Heated fluid moves from the engine to the radiator. While the coolant passes through the engine, it absorbs the heat. The cooling system directs coolant flow into the passages of the engine block, as well as the cylinder heads. If the engine weren’t cooled down, it would lead to complete motor failure. RELATED: 10 Best Engine Antifreeze & Coolants How Does Coolant Work?Īs you drive your vehicle, the engine is creating a lot of heat and needs to be continuously cooled to work right. These colors make it easier to identify the right type of antifreeze for your vehicle. Antifreeze is available in a variety of colors, either green, pink, yellow, red, blue or orange. Antifreeze is made from ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, ensuring that the coolant remains in liquid form for maximum protection.Īntifreeze is mixed with distilled water in a 50/50 ratio, making it coolant. The terms coolant and antifreeze tend to be used interchangeably even though they are slightly different. With the right mixture, the metal components are properly protected, ensuring a long life. When you mix antifreeze, you should always use distilled water because there are no impurities in it. Both of these conditions are dangerous to your car engine, which is why coolant has special additives to stop rust formation. Water is also corrosive to metal, so rust is going to form faster. Over time, the minerals in water are going to create deposits in the radiator that can cause it to stop working correctly. In fact, the radiator could crack, rendering your cooling system useless. When your radiator freezes, you have big problems on your hands. Without antifreeze in the cooling system, it will freeze. The opposite can be said if you live in a cooler climate. You can also cause serious damage to the engine by letting it overheat.

The liquid inside will boil over and evaporate, forcing you to stop your vehicle so the motor can cool off. Without antifreeze, the vehicle’s engine is going to overheat. Using waterless coolant changes the boiling point to 375☏ or more. That figure is much closer to the engine’s operating temperature. When you mix ethylene glycol antifreeze in a 50/50 ratio, the boiling point rises to 223☏. However, it’s clear that the operating temperature of your vehicle is going to be hotter than the boiling point of water (212☏). Boiling Pointįew people think about the boiling point differences between water and coolant. It can cause internal rust, overheating, and other issues with your engine if you only use water. It is definitely not recommended to use only water for long-term use, even if you live in a warm climate. Never drive with only water in the long run. It is recommended to fill the system with the correct coolant mix immediately after repairing the leak. You can use water instead of coolant in emergencies when you only have access to water. Right Way to Add Coolant Can You Use Water Instead of Coolant?

Radiator fluid