Antifreeze — also called coolant — does more than prevent your cooling system from freezing. It's a multi-function fluid that protects your engine year-round. Using plain water instead of a proper coolant mix is one of the most common causes of cooling system damage and overheating-related engine failure.
THREE FUNCTIONS OF ANTIFREEZE:
1. Freeze protection: Antifreeze lowers the freezing point of the coolant mixture. A 50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water provides freeze protection to approximately -34°F. This prevents the coolant from freezing and expanding in the block, which can crack the block or freeze the water pump.
2. Boiling point elevation: Antifreeze raises the boiling point of the coolant. Combined with the pressurized cooling system (typically 15–16 psi cap), a 50/50 coolant mix provides much greater protection against boilover in hot weather and heavy-load conditions than plain water.
3. Corrosion protection: This is the function that's most often overlooked. Modern engines contain aluminum heads, aluminum water pumps, steel block passages, copper/brass radiators (in older vehicles), and iron components — all in contact with each other. Without corrosion inhibitors, this dissimilar metal combination causes electrolytic corrosion. Antifreeze contains inhibitors that prevent corrosion inside the cooling system, extending the life of the water pump, radiator, heater core, and block passages.
PLAIN WATER CAUSES CORROSION: Using plain water — even just temporarily — allows rust to form inside the block and passages. This rust can flake off and clog the radiator, damage the water pump, or create hot spots in the block. Our warranty requires a properly maintained cooling system.
CORRECT MIXTURE: Always use a 50/50 mix of fresh antifreeze and distilled water (not tap water — tap water contains minerals that accelerate corrosion). Pre-mixed 50/50 coolant is available and eliminates the mixing step.
FLUSH AND REFILL AT INSTALLATION: When installing a new or remanufactured engine, always flush the entire cooling system — radiator, heater core, and block passages — and refill with fresh 50/50 coolant. Old, degraded coolant loses its corrosion inhibitors and can actually accelerate corrosion.
Questions? Call 1-844-XPARTS-1 or email support@expediaparts.com.
