2007-11-02 08:19:11 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
water alone won't do it. boils too quickly, freezes and expands causing problems. anti-freeze (or ethylene glycol) raises the boiling point and lowers the freezing point. a 50/50 mixture allows this to happen, being as pure ethylene glycol can't do it alone. it's easiest to buy pre-mixed, but check your owner's manual because there are a few types out there (standard, extended life) and you want to use the correct one.
2007-11-02 08:33:44 · answer #1 · answered by riddance86 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just like most of the other answers said, you need to add the antifreeze to keep the water from freezing. The ethylene Glycol also brings the freezing point down and the boiling point up. The antifreeze has several other chemicals mixed in that can act as rust inhibitors, chemical buffers to keep the pH value of the coolant somewhat regulated so the coolant does not become acidic and cause damage to the cooling system. The exact chemical layout varies not only between the different manufacturers but also between the different types. Make sure you use the correct antifreeze as the cooling systems of certain cars do not like the silicates found in various kinds of antifreeze. Going by the color of the antifreeze is not always possible as many manufacturers use colors that are used for different antifreeze products in the marketplace. Read the manual that came with the car or call a qualified radiator repair shop if you are in doubt. Don't fall for any of the one type of antifreeze covers all applications type of approach. There are different kinds of antifreeze and they are different for a reason. Use what the manufacturer prescribed for your car. The car has been tested for thousands of miles with the prescribed antifreeze and it has worked.
2007-11-05 23:47:02 · answer #2 · answered by Ruben F 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Antifreeze is a concentrate, kind of like frozen orange juice. You must mix it 50/50 with water to give you protection to -40º F
2007-11-02 15:26:09 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. T 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because water expands when it freezes and can crack your engine block, frozen water does not circulate, also antifreeze has lubricants, rust inhibitors and it has a higher boiling point to help you not overheat in the summer.
2007-11-02 15:23:53 · answer #4 · answered by cimra 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
So that when The weather begins to get cooler the water has the possibility to freeze which could result in the engine not getting cool enough and also it could crack the radiator.
2007-11-02 15:33:14 · answer #5 · answered by jay j 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The radiator will be fine with just water in it but the anti freeze prevents the water from freezing up(cracking the radiator with it) and ruining your radiator.
2007-11-02 15:25:20 · answer #6 · answered by ryanblast814 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because water has a chemical called h2o and when they make ati-freeze its makes the h2o soft in other its not as strong as it need to be so u mix water to help the h2o get stonger and ur car wont get hot
2007-11-02 15:32:07 · answer #7 · answered by keameashiaj 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
it is a consentrate... read the labels.. however there is premix on the market these days (cheaper)
2007-11-02 15:24:17 · answer #8 · answered by John St.Louis 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋