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antifreeze OR coolant

  • 28-06-2011 4:53pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,921 ✭✭✭


    Which would be better for a diesel 01 car or are they both the same?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,883 ✭✭✭pa990


    same thing


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    You need to use the right one for the car, the details will be in the handbook/service book.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭sentient_6


    To be pedantic: my understanding is coolant is water mixed 50/50 with antifreeze. So maybe not quiet true to say coolant is antifreeze......ill get me coat.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,857 ✭✭✭langdang


    sentient_6 wrote: »
    To be pedantic: my understanding is coolant is water mixed 50/50 with antifreeze. So maybe not quiet true to say coolant is antifreeze......ill get me coat.
    I agree, and to be even more pedantic you might specify distilled water for making up your coolant. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 225 ✭✭gaza4


    my view always was that
    coolant goes in the rad and aids cooling the engine, there are ready mixed versions as well as un-diluted. most coolants will not/should not freeze unless in extreme circumstances. the bottle will usually state what temps it can resist.

    antifreeze is added to the water in the wash bottle reservoir for your windows to stop the water from freezing over.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    gaza4 wrote: »
    my view always was that
    coolant goes in the rad and aids cooling the engine, there are ready mixed versions as well as un-diluted. most coolants will not/should not freeze unless in extreme circumstances. the bottle will usually state what temps it can resist.

    antifreeze is added to the water in the wash bottle reservoir for your windows to stop the water from freezing over.

    Any liquid in the engine cooling system, whether antifreeze, water or coolant, or mixtures, will cool the engine by transfering heat from the engine, and transferring it to the radiator where it releases this heat as it circulates around from the engine to the radiator.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 225 ✭✭gaza4


    robbie7730 wrote: »
    Any liquid in the engine cooling system, whether antifreeze, water or coolant, or mixtures, will cool the engine by transfering heat from the engine, and transferring it to the radiator where it releases this heat as it circulates around from the engine to the radiator.

    i understand that, just some liquids work better than others...

    i probly should have said that my above post was MY definitions of the two


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    Coolant is a special mixture of water and various other chemicals which transfer heat much more efficiently then water alone. Coolant also has additives to prevent corrosion in the cooling system.

    Antifreeze is an additive which is added in various amounts to coolant to give various levels of freeze protection.

    In above freezing conditions, the level of antifreeze in the coolant has no bearing on its cooling properties.

    As said already, antifreeze is also usually in proper windscreen washer fluid.


    There are also types two main types of coolant, the older standard ethylene glycol based coolants have to be changed regularly(every 2-5 years depending on use) as the corrosion preventing additives deteriorate over that time. This types is usually fine for most normal cars up to and into the 00's.

    The newer (usually orange coloured in the aftermarket) has a much longer life as its fully synthetic and is needed in modern cars with alloy and plastic composite cooling system parts.

    The two shouldn't be mixed and using the older ethylene coolant(or topping up coolant with normal water) in modern cars is one of the reasons that composite water pump impellers and water pipe unions fail so commonly.



    Deep breath...:P


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,798 ✭✭✭voxpop



    The two shouldn't be mixed and using the older ethylene coolant(or topping up coolant with normal water) in modern cars is one of the reasons that composite water pump impellers and water pipe unions fail so commonly.

    your saying that water is corrosive to the plastic waterpump impeller ??


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Coolant is a special mixture of water and various other chemicals which transfer heat much more efficiently then water alone. Coolant also has additives to prevent corrosion in the cooling system.

    Antifreeze is an additive which is added in various amounts to coolant to give various levels of freeze protection.

    In above freezing conditions, the level of antifreeze in the coolant has no bearing on its cooling properties.

    As said already, antifreeze is also usually in proper windscreen washer fluid.


    There are also types two main types of coolant, the older standard ethylene glycol based coolants have to be changed regularly(every 2-5 years depending on use) as the corrosion preventing additives deteriorate over that time. This types is usually fine for most normal cars up to and into the 00's.

    The newer (usually orange coloured in the aftermarket) has a much longer life as its fully synthetic and is needed in modern cars with alloy and plastic composite cooling system parts.

    The two shouldn't be mixed and using the older ethylene coolant(or topping up coolant with normal water) in modern cars is one of the reasons that composite water pump impellers and water pipe unions fail so commonly.



    Deep breath...:P

    Good Info! I believe water actually has better heat transfer properties than any water/antifreeze mix. I am not advocating using water of course, just being pedantic :) Correct me if i am wrong.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    gaza4 wrote: »
    i understand that, just some liquids work better than others...

    Yes thats true, it depends on the heat capacity of the liquid, and viscosity probably.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,718 ✭✭✭Matt Simis


    Good Info! I believe water actually has better heat transfer properties than any water/antifreeze mix. I am not advocating using water of course, just being pedantic :) Correct me if i am wrong.

    True, I remember from my PC water cooling days. For the max heat transfer (thermal capacity) you need the minimum amount of Antifreeze. Obviously you need some antifreeze to stop boiling and micro organism growth as well as freezing of course.


    In cars the thermal capacity isnt that important as the fan will just spin as appropriate to keep a set temp. Anti-boiling is the big issue most of the year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,219 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Antifreeze is American for coolant.
    Sometimes used for screenwash too.

    Antifreeze/coolant comes in various colours. Go with whatever is currently in car.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    Matt Simis wrote: »

    In cars the thermal capacity isnt that important as the fan will just spin as appropriate to keep a set temp. Anti-boiling is the big issue most of the year.

    Its important enough, althoug the heat capacity difference between water and antifreeze-water mix is probably not very big in terms of engine cooling. The fan is just to assist transferring heat from the water to the air via the radiator when there is little or no airflow through the radiator, such as when the car is not moving but the engine is running.

    The engine set temp is more kept in control by the thermostat which restricts flow into the radiator and re-opens it again to regulate the engine temp, according to how much cooling the radiator is doing. But this can do little or nothing when a car is stopped and there is too little air flow through the radiator, so in comes the fan.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    biko wrote: »
    Antifreeze is American for coolant.

    Antifreeze/coolant comes in various colours. Go with whatever is currently in car.

    Very innacurate. May I direct you to Nissan Doctors Post.

    Colour is no longer, and hasn't been for some time, a good indicator of coolant type since producers broke from colour conventions and started arbitrarily mixing up colours.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,718 ✭✭✭Matt Simis


    robbie7730 wrote: »
    The engine set temp is more kept in control by the thermostat which restricts flow into the radiator and re-opens it again to regulate the engine temp, according to how much cooling the radiator is doing. But this can do little or nothing when a car is stopped and there is too little air flow through the radiator, so in comes the fan.

    True, that is a better description than mine.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    Matt Simis wrote: »
    True, that is a better description than mine.

    The stat is gone in my one, so its runnin too cool, although i covered part of the rad with a bit of cardboard till i get round to replacing the stat. Unbelievable how bad it was running before that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    voxpop wrote: »
    your saying that water is corrosive to the plastic waterpump impeller ??


    I didn't say that at all. Obviously adding water to coolant, weakens the coolant leading to less corrosion protection of metal/alloy parts(the water pump impeller is mounted on a steel shaft) and rubber seals. Using the old ethylene glycol based coolants damages the composite parts....

    Good Info! I believe water actually has better heat transfer properties than any water/antifreeze mix. I am not advocating using water of course, just being pedantic :) Correct me if i am wrong.


    Water could well be a better thermal fluid then coolant but your cooling system won't last long, especially in winter, with just water in it.

    Water alone has a lower boiling point, a higher freeze point and no corrosion resistance compared to purpose made coolants.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,702 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Pedantry free post....

    Coolant is what you have in the radiator, antifreeze is an additive to stop it freezing.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    Water alone has a lower boiling point, a higher freeze point and no corrosion resistance compared to purpose made coolants.

    Yea the heat capacity of coolant is plenty high enough to do its cooling job, even if its a bit lower than pure water, how well they cool varies a lot depending on the airflow through the rad anyway, and them rads do a great job at heat transfer into the air, whether its by the driving airflow or the fan.


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  • Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    gaza4 wrote: »
    ...........antifreeze is added to the water in the wash bottle reservoir for your windows to stop the water from freezing over.

    So what about the stuff on the shelf that has "Antifreeze and summer coolant" on the label ?


  • Posts: 24,713 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    sentient_6 wrote: »
    To be pedantic: my understanding is coolant is water mixed 50/50 with antifreeze. So maybe not quiet true to say coolant is antifreeze......ill get me coat.

    The oem BMW liquid I mix with water is branded as Anti-freeze/coolant.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    RoverJames wrote: »
    So what about the stuff on the shelf that has "Antifreeze and summer coolant" on the label ?
    The oem BMW liquid I mix with water is branded as Anti-freeze/coolant.


    Because its almost impossible to buy coolant that doesn't have antifreeze added so that's why most think they are the same.

    The amount of antifreeze and the type of coolant are the things to be considering though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭sentient_6


    I'm sorry i said anything now! :P


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    coylemj wrote: »
    Pedantry free post....

    Coolant is what you have in the radiator, antifreeze is an additive to stop it freezing.

    So that answers the ops original question in what way exactly :pac:


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