Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is a liquid that is normally mixed with water at a 50/50 ratio to help regulate your engine’s temperatures. This is especially true during extreme heat conditions from the weather outside or if you’re just pushing your car to its limits.
Does coolant have to be 50/50? The answer is yes. For optimum cooling properties, a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water is the standard recommendation because it provides the most optimum cooling and performance for most vehicles.
Purchasing premixed coolant that is already 50/50 takes all the guessing out of proper ratios. However, you can purchase pure coolant and mix it yourself. There are a few things that you must take into account before mixing your own coolant, such as using only distilled water.
How to Properly Mix Coolant/Antifreeze With Water
Mixing your own coolant is pretty simple, but there are a few things that need to be done to make sure you have a high quality mixture for your car.
The first thing you need to do is purchase a name brand coolant that is compatible with the vehicle you will be using it for.
Next, you will need to have distilled water, a measuring cup, a funnel, and a large storage container for mixing. Make sure this container has a lid so it can be sealed tight.
- Check the coolant capacity of your vehicle. This can be found in your owner’s manual.
- Measure out the correct ratio of coolant and place it into your storage container.
- Measure out the correct ratio of water and put it into the container with the coolant.
- Mix the coolant and water until thoroughly mixed.
- Store the container in a cool, dry area after use.
The coolant to water ratio is slightly different depending on the type of coolant you are using. The type of coolant you will use depends on the type of vehicle, as well as the environment that you are driving in.
The following chart shows what the ratio should be in terms of coolant to water:
| Coolant | Coolant to Water Ratio |
| Antifreeze | 1:1 (50/50) |
| Ethylene-Glycol Antifreeze | 7:3 (70/30) |
| Factory Antifreeze | 6:4 (60/40) |
To check the current price and availability of premixed coolant, click here to view the selection on Amazon.
What Happens if You Don’t Mix Antifreeze 50/50?
For the most part, you should be fine if you don’t mix it with an exact 50/50 ratio. As long as it’s close, your mixture should be good enough in your car for it to properly cool in extreme temperatures.
The easiest way to make sure you have an exact 50/50 mixture is to purchase premixed coolant. Many name brand coolants already mix their coolants with water which takes out the guesswork.
Can I Use 100% Antifreeze in My Car?
You can use 100% antifreeze in your car, however the amount of cooling pure antifreeze will provide will not be as efficient as a mixture.
Studies have shown that using pure antifreeze in your system can actually decrease the heat-transfer capabilities by up to 30%-35%. This amount of heat is enough to cause damage to your engine, especially during the hotter times of the year.
What the Difference Between 50/50 Antifreeze and Regular (100%)?
The main difference between 50/50 antifreeze, and regular is that one is diluted with 50% distilled water solution while the other is 100% pure antifreeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Wrong Coolant Damage the Engine?
Using the wrong type of coolant in your vehicle can slowly lead to internal damage. The type of damage your vehicle will incur can differ from vehicle to vehicle, but for the most part
Using the wrong engine coolant can gradually lead to corrosion and damage to the water pump, radiator, radiator hoses and cylinder gasket. This can lead to damage to the engine in the worst case.
Can I Drive With Mixed Coolants?
Mixing different types of coolants is never a good idea. Especially if you are mixing two totally different types. For example, mixing a green and orange coolant together can be a disaster since they are two different types of coolant.
Mixing these two coolants together can cause a thick gummy substance to form which can actually stop coolant from flowing completely. This can quickly lead to overheating issues.
The two coolants should never be mixed together as they do not react well. When mixed together they can form a thick, jelly-like substance that can completely stop all coolant flow which can lead to overheating.
Green coolant is inorganic additive technology, or IAT. Orange coolant is organic acid technologies or OAT.
This type of coolant was created for newer cars that were made with aluminum and nylon parts in them. OAT coolants are superior when it comes to preventing corrosion in these newer vehicles.
Can I Put New Coolant in With Old Coolant?
It is perfectly fine to mix new coolant with old coolant, as long as it is the exact same type. Mixing old coolant with new coolant is actually a common practice when a car has a radiator or hose leak.
When coolant becomes low due to a leak, simply topping off your radiator with new coolant will help to keep your engine from overheating.
Final Thoughts
Coolant’s primary job is to keep your engine cool during extreme conditions. A 50/50 solution of coolant to water is recommended in most vehicles as this is the most optimal ratio for optimum cooling and performance.
We recommend purchasing premixed 50/50 coolant as this will take a lot of the guessing and errors out of the equation. However, you can also buy 100% pure antifreeze and mix it yourself to store for later.
When mixing your own coolant, be sure to use a name brand coolant along with distilled water. After mixing, be sure to store the excess in an air tight container.