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Engine coolant, or antifreeze as it's also commonly known, is vital for keeping any vehicle functioning. It's a water-based liquid that acts as an ever-flowing cooling agent within the engine - without it, your car would overheat and break down pretty quickly. That's why finding the right coolant is not only recommended but downright essential!
It used to be common practice to buy coolant from a petrol station, but this meant that many confused car owners would need to check their vehicle's manual or try to remember the colour of their last coolant on the spot. Luckily, today there are plenty of quality coolant brands like Prestone, Comma, and Alde that are all available to buy online from the peace and comfort of your home, so there's no need to trek down to the local garage!
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Breaking down what engine coolant actually is and how it works is crucial when searching for the ideal product to keep your engine purring proficiently. In this simple buying guide, we'll discuss the different types of coolant, their properties, and the subsequent effects they'll have on your vehicle.
The first thing to consider when shopping for an engine coolant is that it'll be compatible with your car. Many coolants are suitable for use with all makes and models of vehicle - these are ideal for ordinary cars that don't require a specialist product.
On the other hand, premium coolants are designed with higher-end car manufacturers in mind. They use top-quality ingredients that are officially approved for use on vehicles by companies such as Audi, Bentley, Mercedes Benz, and Volkswagen. If your car is your pride and joy, you should definitely make sure you pick this kind of coolant as it'll deliver the best results!
You can also find coolants that cater specifically to one type of engine, such as those in cars made by Ford. These are designed and manufactured by a certain company only for their cars. They're typically more expensive than all-purpose coolants though, as you'd probably expect!
Knowing the difference between concentrate and a ready-mixed coolant will ensure that you don't have any nasty surprises with your engine, but each type has pros and cons - we'll explain all about them here!
Within the ready-mixed coolant realm, you will find many inexpensive all-purpose coolants. These are coolants that can be used on all makes and models of vehicle, including all diesel and petrol engines. These are therefore perfect for the everyday vehicle that doesn't require a premium or speciality coolant.
There are also ready-mixed premium coolants on the market, but these are harder to find - this is because most premium brands prefer to leave the big decision of ratio up to the user. So, while ready-mixed coolants are generally a convenient option, they do have limitations when it comes to ratio, with most using the industry-standard of 1:1 (one part coolant to one part water).
Coolant in concentrate form requires you to decide on the ideal ratio of coolant to water before use. You can therefore come up with the correct percentage split for the type of vehicle you own, as well as factors like the climate you live in.
Just make sure you remember to add water, as using 100% concentrate will spell disaster for your engine! Water is crucial when it comes to the liquid actively cooling your engine - think of the concentrate as the antifreeze part and the water as the cooling part of the overall coolant mix.
Each coolant product will have a specific temperature that it'll freeze or overheat at. This temperature protection scale is incredibly important to consider - as we're sure you know, the weather is rarely predictable here in the UK!
Whether preparing for the "Beast from the East" or a scorching summer heatwave, buying a coolant that can combat any type of weather is paramount in keeping you rolling all year round. To help you out, we'll share both the freezing and overheating temperatures of each product in the specification table below the review.
Coolants generally have anti-corrosion properties which prevent the metal inside your vehicle from deteriorating, but these only last for a certain amount of time before the coolant needs to be flushed out and replaced.
These days, most coolants come with organic acid technology (OAT). These organic acids are better for the environment and give the product long-lasting corrosion protection of up to 10 years!
However, if your car was made before the year 2000, it'll probably need a coolant with inorganic acid technology (IAT) or hybrid organic acid technology (HOAT) instead. These use silicone to combat corrosion, but they aren't as long-lasting as OAT. IAT coolants will only give your engine 2-3 years of protection, while HOAT products will protect your engine for up to 5 years.
Buying online can sometimes entail receiving a product, opening it up, and realising it's half the size of what you imagined. This is why it pays to check the volume in litres before hitting the "buy now" button, so you know that you're definitely getting a decent deal - not one that's too good to be true!
If, as we mentioned earlier, the type of coolant will need changing every 2 or 3 years then you should probably go for a bigger bottle that'll provide several refills. Those who only need to change their coolant every 10 years, on the other hand, won't require as much.
Checking the volume against whether a coolant is concentrate or ready-mixed is also important, as concentrates can double in size once you've added water.
Lastly, let's talk about colour! In the past, the colour of a coolant would determine its compatibility with a certain type of engine, and it was important to avoid mixing coolants in different colours if you wanted to keep your engine running smoothly.
Nowadays, however, the colour of a coolant isn't necessarily relevant to its effect on an engine. In fact, most modern coolants are all-purpose, so it doesn't matter which hue you choose! If you're an old-school racer who still likes to know the colour of the coolant though, we'll mention this point in the specification table below each product review.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Prestone Coolant Antifreeze | £17.10 Mid | Versatile, Long-Lasting, and Very Affordable | ||
2 | Glysantin Antifreeze and Engine Coolant Concentrate|G30 | £9.99 Low Mid | Designed to Keep High-End Cars in Perfect Condition | ||
3 | Volkswagen Original Coolant|G13 | £19.49 High Mid | Ideal for Modern VW, Audi, Seat, and Skoda Engines | ||
4 | Alde Premium Protective Antifreeze Ready-Mixed|G13 | £42.91 High | Protects Premium Engines for up to 5 Years | ||
5 | Comma Xstream Antifreeze Coolant Concentrate|G48 | £24.95 High Mid | A Concentrated Coolant With IAT Technology | ||
6 | Ford Super Plus Premium | £12.47 Mid | Specially Designed for Ford Engines | ||
7 | Comma Super Longlife Red | £15.82 Mid | A No-Fuss, Ready-Mixed Product From Comma | ||
8 | Mannol Coolant Antifreeze Ready-Mixed|G12+ | £12.17 Mid | Compatible With All Modern Engines | ||
9 | Bluecol Universal Antifreeze & Coolant Top Up | £8.97 Low Mid | Ideal for a Top-up While on the Road | ||
10 | Silverhook Ready-Mixed Blue Antifreeze|SHB4 | £9.99 Low Mid | A Cheap Coolant for Older Engines |
This coolant from Prestone comes very highly rated by car lovers and there are a few points that set it apart from the other formulas on our list. First and foremost, this product is designed to work effectively on all types of engines, so it's wonderfully versatile.
Secondly, this is an extremely long-lasting coolant! Using OAT technology, it'll give your engine 10 years of corrosion protection before it needs changing. Lastly, it has an immense freezing and overheating scope of -36°C to 129°C - not bad for a budget product! Snap this fantastic formula up quick while you can!
This German-made coolant has been servicing cars for almost 100 years, so you know it must be something special! Officially approved by high-end manufacturers like Bentley, Jaguar, Audi, Mercedes, and Porsche, it's designed with premium engines in mind.
The OAT technology is perfect for use with modern premium engines and guarantees corrosion protection of 5 years. A tried and tested coolant that's amazingly affordable too, this is a must-buy for anyone with a premium car!
This speciality coolant is another pricey product, but it comes very highly recommended for VW, Audi, Seat, and Skoda engines. The HOAT technology gives it long-lasting protection against corrosion for up to 5 years.
Able to withstand temperatures up to 135°C without overheating, this coolant can pretty much handle anything that the unpredictable UK climate throws at it! A brilliant formula for modern, high-functioning engines.
This top-quality coolant from Alde is designed for premium makes of vehicle including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Porsche, and VW. It comes ready-mixed so it can be poured straight into the engine when needed.
The hybrid HOAT technology will also protect your precious car's engine for up to 5 years, regardless of how icy or boiling hot the weather gets. While this is certainly the most expensive coolant on our list, it's well worth the price!
Here's another superb product from Comma! This time, it's a concentrate that's aimed at older engines by manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes, VW, Audi, and Volvo. Be sure to check the label to see if it's compatible with your vehicle though if it's a newer model!
Using IAT technology, this product only has around 3 years of corrosion protection for your engine. This isn't a huge period of time, but it's what you'd expect from a silicone-based coolant.
This specialist coolant is designed for Ford owners, which there are certainly a few of here in the UK! It boasts a staggering 10 years of protection for your engine against corrosion. Plus, it has an incredibly high overheating temperature of 129°C - so no matter how hot it gets during summer, your car will stay cool.
Considering this is a premium, purpose-built coolant with OAT technology, it's great value for money and promises to keep your engine in tip-top condition.
This coolant from Comma is a budget buy that'll suit modern engines swimmingly. With a freezing temperature of -36°C and an overheating temperature of 45°C, it's more than adequate for British weather!
A ready-mixed coolant with OAT technology, this product has corrosion protection that should last for up to 5 years. It's not ideal for premium cars that require a specialist formula though.
This coolant comes highly recommended if you're looking for an inexpensive coolant. The OAT technology is compatible with all modern engines and provides anti-corrosion properties that should last 5 years.
This coolant's freezing and overheating temperatures are industry-standard, so it should keep your engine happy in summer as well as winter. It might not be a premium coolant, but at just over £10 for 5 litres, it's a hard deal to beat!
This double pack of 1-litre bottles from Bluecol is perfect for stashing in the boot of your car - you never know when your engine might need a quick glug of coolant to keep things running smoothly!
The OAT technology of this ready-mix formula ensures that it can be used on all modern engines, and it'll keep everything corrosion-free for 5 years. It may not be the highest quality formula on our list, but it's very reasonably priced and does the job.
This cheap and cheerful coolant from Silverhook has been designed with all models of car in mind, but it's especially effective on older engines. It's a ready-mixed formula with a freezing temperature of -36°. Unfortunately though, the overheating temperature is not specified.
It's a shame that this product only has 2 years protection against corrosion, but it's what you'd expect from IAT technology. Still, at less than a tenner, this coolant is certainly a bargain if you own an older engine!
Whether it's the commute to work, weekend trips, or a joyous ride along country roads on a Sunday afternoon, driving is an essential part of life for many of us. Equipping your beloved car with the right products will definitely heighten your driving experience, so why not have a read through our other automobile-related articles?
We hope that this article has shed some light on the sometimes confusing task of finding a suitable coolant for your car. Whether your vehicle is a crucial part of the school run or a head-turning racer that brings you joy, a good quality coolant will keep it running all year long!
Author: Connor Macanally
No. 1: Prestone|Coolant Antifreeze
No. 2: Glysantin|Antifreeze and Engine Coolant Concentrate|G30
No. 3: Volkswagen |Original Coolant|G13
No. 4: Alde|Premium Protective Antifreeze Ready-Mixed|G13
No. 5: Comma|Xstream Antifreeze Coolant Concentrate|G48
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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