Automobile help??

Question

Most automobiles have water cooled engines. What must be true about a solution that can replace water in the cooling system, such as anti-freeze??

Answer 1

All anti freeze does is lower the freezing point for people who are in winter driving situations. Otherwise it does little but slow the corrosion process inside your radiator and water pump. Many warm weather drivers use only 10-15% anti-freeze while some cold weather drivers use 50-60% anti-freeze. The important thing to remember is that the water is what removes the heat from the engine and not the anti-freeze.

Answer 2

The proper 50/50 mix of distilled water and antifreeze lowers the freezing point of the coolant to 36 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. It also protects the block, heads, radiator and heater core form rust and corrosion.
Water does not cool the motor alone. The pressurized (radiator cap) coolant depending upon the number stamped on the top (usually 16 lbs.) raises the boiling point to 263 degrees above zero F. The action of the water pump forcing coolant through the block and cylinder heads is finally cooled by the radiator in front of the engine. The thermostat is a spring loaded bi-metal valve that allows the coolant to reach the ideal temperature for the best fuel economy and also provides hot water to pass through the heater core for those cold winter days.