Which is better: antifreeze or antifreeze?

The operation of the internal combustion engine is impossible without cooling it. When fuel is burned, the best examples of modern gasoline engines use up to 30%, and diesel engines use up to 45% of the energy received. The rest is carried away with the exhaust gases or is lost when the engine itself heats up. To eliminate it, a cooling system is provided on the internal combustion engine. It is usually filled with special coolants (coolants). Here is about what is better - antifreeze or antifreeze - is suitable for these purposes, and there are many disputes and disagreements.

About coolants

At the very first stage, ordinary water was used as a coolant. Its main drawback is that it freezes at subzero temperatures, tearing the engine cooling jacket. As an alternative for these purposes were used:

  1. Glycerin. Low freezing colorless liquid with a sweetish taste. It is sometimes used now as one of the components of the same coolant. But its use was limited over time due to the rather high freezing point and high viscosity, which impedes circulation in the internal combustion engine cooling system.
  2. Methanol (methyl alcohol). It has a low freezing point, but is capable of interacting with aluminum, causing corrosion of engine components. However, the main obstacle is that it is a poison, and it has a cumulative effect (accumulates in the body).
  3. Ethylene glycol. Serves as the basis for modern coolants. Its peculiarity is that the addition of water leads to a decrease in the freezing point, a mixture of 40% water and 60% ethylene glycol freezes at minus 70 degrees. So it serves as the basis for antifreeze and antifreeze.

So what do we choose?

Thinking about what is preferable - antifreeze or antifreeze, which is better to use for the cooling system, the choice is not easy. And this question is not entirely correct. Any of the mentioned coolants is antifreeze - this is the general name for this class of anti-freezing fluids. One of them is called antifreeze. But if this issue is approached somewhat from the other side, comparing different brands of coolant, then it can be established that these two grades differ in the composition of the additives used. The following types are used:

  1. Silicate. Antifreeze with similar additives is called antifreeze, it is an old coolant developed back in 1971. Its characteristic feature is the formation of a layer of scale when heated. This is done to protect the cooling system from corrosion. Due to the occurrence of salt deposits when using antifreeze, its effectiveness will decrease over time. During the manufacturing process, this coolant is usually painted blue.
  2. Carboxylate. These are organic inhibitors that prevent corrosion and are added to antifreeze.

    Additional information on the use of antifreeze and antifreeze

    It should be noted that the coolant can be designed for operation at different temperatures. As a rule, drivers of the middle lane consider (by default) that any antifreeze (antifreeze) freezes at -40 degrees. But if the car, before it came to you, was operated in the southern regions of the country, it may use coolant that is not intended for use at low temperatures.

    Therefore, in such cases, it is best to change the coolant to the one suitable for your region. And what to fill? Here you can be guided by a fairly simple rule - for modern, expensive cars, you need to use antifreeze, and not just any cheap one purchased in the nearest market, but from serious manufacturers. It is worth taking into account the recommendations of the automaker set out in the owner's manual.

    And for other cars, the choice may be determined by personal capabilities, taking into account the fact that antifreeze is a cheaper coolant. And as a help, you can take the advice given in the video:

    One of the eternal questions that many drivers are tormented by is which coolant is the best to use. Someone is leaning towards antifreeze, someone recommends antifreeze. Although these coolants belong to one class of antifreeze fluids called antifreeze, the choice of a particular brand sometimes causes controversy and misunderstandings.

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