Coolant & Antifreeze

Choosing the Right Coolant & Antifreeze

Engine coolant does much more than prevent an engine from overheating. The cooling system must transfer heat away from the engine while protecting radiators, water pumps, cylinder heads and other cooling-system components against corrosion, deposits, freezing and boiling throughout a wide range of operating conditions.

AMSOIL offers coolant and antifreeze products for automotive, powersports and other compatible applications. Choosing the correct coolant requires consideration of the vehicle manufacturer's coolant requirements, coolant chemistry and application rather than selecting a product by colour alone.

Coolant Is More Than Water and Antifreeze

Water is an effective heat-transfer fluid, but an automotive cooling system requires additional protection. Coolant combines a glycol base with corrosion inhibitors and other additives designed to protect the different metals and materials found throughout the cooling system.

The antifreeze component also lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling protection of the coolant mixture, helping the cooling system operate across a much wider temperature range than water alone.

Coolant Colour Is Not a Specification

Coolants are sold in many different colours, but colour should not be used as the primary method of determining compatibility. Similar-looking coolants can use different additive technologies, while products using similar chemistry may be dyed completely different colours by different manufacturers.

Always identify the coolant specification or application required by the vehicle manufacturer rather than replacing coolant solely on the basis that the new product is the same colour as the fluid already in the system.

Different Coolant Technologies

Modern vehicles use a variety of coolant technologies and manufacturer-specific requirements. Conventional inorganic additive technology, organic acid technology and hybrid formulations use different approaches to corrosion protection, while vehicle manufacturers may specify particular performance requirements for the materials and cooling-system designs used in their engines.

This makes coolant compatibility particularly important when topping up or changing an existing system. Where the existing coolant cannot be confidently identified, a complete cooling-system service may be preferable to introducing an unknown coolant chemistry into the system.

Concentrate vs Premixed Coolant

Coolant may be supplied as a concentrate requiring dilution or as a premixed product ready for use. When diluting concentrate, use the coolant manufacturer's recommended mixture and suitable water quality. Incorrect concentration can reduce cooling performance or compromise freeze, boil and corrosion protection.

Premixed coolant provides the convenience of a correctly prepared mixture and avoids uncertainty over water quality or mixing ratio during routine servicing and top-ups.

Cooling-System Maintenance

Coolant deteriorates with time and service as its corrosion inhibitors and other additives are depleted. Following an appropriate coolant service interval helps maintain protection throughout the cooling system rather than waiting until the fluid visibly appears contaminated.

A coolant change is also an opportunity to inspect hoses, clamps, the radiator, expansion tank and other cooling-system components for leaks or deterioration. Where contamination, corrosion or incompatible coolant mixing has occurred, additional flushing may be required before the system is refilled.

Find the Correct Coolant for Your Vehicle

Always follow the vehicle or equipment manufacturer's coolant requirements and service procedures. Use the AMSOIL Vehicle Product Finder to identify suitable AMSOIL coolant and other maintenance products for your application.