10 Best Antifreeze/ Coolant: Buying Guide and Review

Driving is only as fun and safe as long as your car runs the way it should, and the engine doesn’t fail to start or operate properly. And to make sure that that doesn’t happen, one of the most important things you need to watch out for is whether your engine coolant still works.

If you’re looking for the best antifreeze/ coolant that will keep your engine cool and running smoothly, here are the best product recommendations I have for you, as well as a complete buying guide to help you make the right decision on which antifreeze would work best for your engine.

The Best Coolant (Antifreeze)

Take a look at these ten best antifreeze/ coolants that are guaranteed to perform well and give you the best value for your money. I’ve taken the time to research and review several different options for you to choose from, so you are sure to find one that works for you and your car.

1.  Evans EC53001 High Performance Waterless Coolant

My top pick is the Evans EC53001 High Performance Waterless Coolant, a highly rated Amazon’s Choice product that is guaranteed to work exceptionally well for both gasoline and diesel-powered engines.

It’s designed to effectively raise water’s boiling point and at the same time lower its freezing point so that your engine is well protected against severe temperature and weather changes, thereby prolonging your car’s service life.

Moreover, it also has excellent corrosion resistance and reduces the risk of electrolysis to enhance protection for your vehicle and make sure it’s always at the top of its game. It’s suitable for cars, motorcycles, and trucks as well.

2.  Valvoline Multi-Vehicle Ready-to-Use Antifreeze/Coolant

Taking the second spot is the Valvoline Multi-Vehicle Ready-to-Use Antifreeze/Coolant, which is another highly rated product that is affordable and highly efficient, and is suitable to use on most American made vehicles, whether new or old.

What makes this so great is that it makes use of a specially formulated additive called Alugard Plus that is designed to better protect your engine by preventing corrosion and premature wearing, all while lubricating your seals and gaskets.

It also offers you a high mileage with an engine that performs well, and it really just works wonders on your vehicle, whether you’re driving a typical passenger car, a light truck, or many other forms of automotives.

3.  Toyota Genuine 00272 SLLC2 Engine Coolant / Antifreeze

Ranking third is the Toyota Genuine 00272 SLLC2 Engine Coolant / Antifreeze, a specially formulated antifreeze solution for Toyota vehicles, including cars, trucks, and SUVs. it’s OEM certified, so you know it works well and lasts long.

That said, it also works great for non-Toyota vehicles, so you can use it just fine even if you own a different brand. It comes as a pre-diluted formulation that you can readily and conveniently use, and is guaranteed to keep your engine in top shape for a long time.

All things considered, it’s one of the best antifreeze coolants you will ever find, especially if you own a relatively new vehicle. If you want to keep your engine cool and running smoothly, this is a great and suitable option for you.

4.  Zerex G05 Phosphate Free Antifreeze/Coolant

In fourth place is the Zerex G05 Phosphate Free Antifreeze/Coolant, which is one of the cheapest yet still high quality coolants on the market. It even works great for various types of car and truck engines, so it’s highly versatile as well.

That’s because its special formulation makes it suitable for both gasoline and diesel engines, so it can be used on cars, light trucks, and heavier machinery. It offers excellent protection on iron and aluminum car parts, and has superior rust and corrosion resistance.

And, it also makes use of a defoamer component that has the capacity to render the fluid safe for plastic car parts and components. It’s also easy to use and just requires diluting the product with a 1:1 ratio of water before application.

5.  ShellZone Pre-Diluted 50/50 Antifreeze/Engine Coolant

Next up is the ShellZone Pre-Diluted 50/50 Antifreeze/Engine Coolant, a superior engine antifreeze made by a reputable, trustworthy, and well known brand that guarantees superb performance and reliability.

It’s a pre-diluted solution that’s easy to use right out of the bottle, so you simply have to pour it in your cooling system and let it do the job for you. It even works for various types of vehicles, engines, and fuels, so you can use it regardless of what car you own.

Besides, it’s also a pretty cheap and affordable option that’s surely going to give you the best value for your money. All in all, it’s a great and well performing product that you should definitely give a try.

6.  Genuine Ford Fluid Orange Pre-Diluted Antifreeze/Coolant

I’ve offered you an excellent solution for Toyota vehicles, but how about for other brands? Well, don’t you worry, here is the Genuine Ford Fluid Orange Pre-Diluted Antifreeze/Coolant, the best antifreeze solution for Ford vehicles.

It comes as a ready to use pre-diluted formulation that’s really convenient since you don’t have to measure out water and antifreeze prior to use. Instead, it can work straight away in raising the engine water’s boiling point and lowering its freezing point.

Plus, it works for both diesel and gasoline engines. It’s also ethylene glycol-based and contains a bittering agent that makes it safe from pets and kids. Although, that’s not saying you should just leave it somewhere little humans can easily reach and play with.

7.  P-restone Original Extended Life 50/50 Antifreeze/Coolant

Another excellent antifreeze/ coolant solution is the P-restone Original Extended Life 50/50 Antifreeze/Coolant, which is manufactured by another well known and highly trusted brand when it comes to all things engine related.

It has an ethylene glycol formulation that is designed to work with most vehicle types and models, thus earning its name as a universal cooling agent that works great and won’t void your vehicle’s warranty and insurance.

Moreover, it’s also environmentally friendly since it’s made with non-toxic and biodegradable components, and doesn’t contain any nitrates, phosphates, and silicates. It just does the job so well, which is to keep your engine cool and running smoothly.

8.  Engine Ice TYDS008 High Performance Coolant

You might also want to try the Engine Ice TYDS008 High Performance Coolant, which is another safe and environmentally friendly option that doesn’t sacrifice on quality and performance. In fact, it’s so great that it’s often used by many racers around the globe.

This engine coolant does a superior job in keeping your engine cool at all times and protecting it from the harsh effects of varying weather conditions such as extremely hot and cold weathers, so you really can’t ask for much else.

Perhaps the only catch in this otherwise perfect product is that it’s a tad more expensive than other options on the market, especially considering that it only comes in small sizes of half a gallon containers.

9.  Mercedes Benz Engine Coolant/Antifreeze

Yet another specially formulated antifreeze for specific car brands is the Mercedes Benz Engine Coolant/Antifreeze, which, as you might have guessed, is designed for Mercedes Benz vehicles and automotives, as well as for motorcycles and marine crafts that bear the brand name.

It’s proven safe and effective in keeping your engine cool and protected so it performs well under all conditions. It’s an OEM formula that works great both as a coolant and antifreeze in one, and is guaranteed to protect you engine’s aluminum components.

What’s more is that it also has anti corrosion and rust properties, so you can rest assured that your engine will stay in peak condition for a long time to come. Just remember to dilute it first before using, and you should be good to go.

10.  Havoline Xtended Life Antifreeze/Coolant

Finally, last but not the least is the Havoline Xtended Life Antifreeze/Coolant, which is a super affordable yet premium quality antifreeze solution that’s already pre-mixed and ready to use right out of the bottle.

It’s an OEM formula that is highly effective in taking care of your engine and making sure to give you the most miles on the road. With this one, you can expect an improved heat transfer and viable protection against leaks and premature wear.

Most importantly, it’s also reliable and highly suitable for various car types and models made in the USA, as well as many other vehicles manufactured in Europe and Asia, from passenger cars to light duty trucks.

Antifreeze/ Coolant Buying Guide

We often forget that coolants exist and serve an important purpose in our vehicles, and that really should change. After all, without these antifreeze solutions, there’s a high chance your car won’t be running really soon.

But, when it comes to choosing the best antifreeze/ coolant for your engine, just how do you make that decision? How do you choose which one is right for you? After all, not all coolants are made the same and will give you the same performance.

In order to help you make the right choice, here are the most important things that you need to take into account when buying an antifreeze/ coolant:

What is an antifreeze or a coolant?

First of all, let’s define what antifreeze is, and whether it’s the same as a coolant.

Technically, these two things used to be different, but with technological advancements, nowadays, coolant and antifreeze have become interchangeable terms, since both of these have the capacity to cool down a car engine and prevent it from overheating, as well as help it continue to run when temperatures are below zero.

More than the technical definition, the more important thing you need to understand is that antifreeze is an important car fluid that works in ensuring that your vehicle keeps running no matter what the weather and temperature condition.

How does antifreeze work?

But, how exactly does an antifreeze liquid do these things?

Well, the liquid is poured into the car’s cooling system and is circulated throughout the car’s engine and other surrounding car components in order to regulate temperature levels. This constant circulation is what ensures that heat from the engine is dissipated.

It works with the use of a water pump that helps it reach the heater core as well so that the interior of the car keeps a regulated temperature. Finally, the coolant returns to the radiator to cool it down, before going back again to the engine.

In many cases, plain water is used as a car engine coolant, but it doesn’t have the same temperature regulating capabilities that antifreeze has, so it doesn’t hold well in extremely hot and cold climates where high combustion temperatures and extreme outdoor temperatures are a constant issue.

How often should you change your car’s antifreeze?

Now that you have a clearer understanding of what antifreeze is and how it works, you should also understand how often you should change the antifreeze/ coolant in your cooling system so as to make sure that your engine stays running smoothly and without an issue.

Every 60,000 miles is a safe range, although it ultimately depends on how you drive your car, what condition the engine is in, and the manufacturer’s specification.

Of course, you could always just do an engine inspection, such as by looking for signs of corrosion, rust, and wearing, by testing for acidity with test strips, or by measuring the protective capabilities of the existing antifreeze with the use of a hydrometer.

It all depends on your car

To expound further on what I’ve said earlier, different car makers and models have different recommendations on what type of coolant to use and how long before this coolant must be changed.

You can get a range of as low as 30,000 miles for old Hyundai cars and as high as 150,000 miles for top of the line Chevrolet and Mercedes Benz vehicles.

Generally, the newer model your vehicle is, the longer it takes before you need to replace any sort of engine fluid, since these vehicles have been made more efficient and with less environmental footprint.

Tip: Replace before you have to

A good practice is to replace your engine coolant or antifreeze if you’ve already put in significant miles, even when tests show that the fluid still works in cooling down your engine. That’s because at some point, it loses its rust and corrosion resistance properties.

So, essentially, you just have glorified water as your coolant that does nothing in protecting the engine from deterioration and damage, and with no antifreeze properties to help regulate the engine under extreme weather conditions.

Read also: Refrigerant Oil You Should Add to Your AC Compressor, and What happens when there is oil in the coolant reservoir?

Things to Consider Before Buying an Antifreeze or Coolant

The best thing you can do to ensure that you find the right type of antifreeze/ coolant for your car is to consult with your car manual, but as an added information to let you know what’s what, here are the most important factors that need to be taken into account when buying the best antifreeze/ coolant:

Type of fuel

The most important factor perhaps when it comes to engine coolants is the type of fuel that the engine itself runs on, since the coolant is formulated to work on specific types of fuel. This is because diesel and gasoline engines have different requirements on what types of properties the coolant should have.

For example, diesel engines are more susceptible to corrosion and thus require superior corrosion resistance from the coolant, which is achieved by mixing supplemental coolant additives.

Type of coolant

There are also different types of antifreeze based on the type and age of the vehicle and engine. These coolants are made with different formulations and ingredients depending on the existing technology of automotives at the time.

For example, old car models made in the early 1900s up to the late 1990s make use of inorganic acids, and therefore contain silicate and phosphate, whereas newer vehicle models make use of organic acids that work better for aluminum car parts and components. These coolants also last longer than inorganic ones.

And then there are hybrid organic acid coolants, which contain silicate and nitrates that are more suitable for Asian and European automotives.

Ethylene glycol vs propylene glycol

There are also coolants made with ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, and each one has its own benefits and downsides. For example, ethylene glycol is more efficient and works better under lower temperatures.

On the other hand, propylene glycol is more suitable for tropical locations, and is not as toxic and harmful to the skin in case of accidental contact.

Ease of use

One thing you might want to consider that is largely up to your personal preference is how easy to antifreeze/ coolant is to use, meaning, whether it requires any prior preparation, or if you can just pour it into the cooling system directly from the bottle.

To give you an idea, there are antifreeze solutions sold as pre-diluted formulations that already contain a 1:1 ratio of water and coolant, while others are concentrated and require diluting at a specific ratio to work best for your car given specific conditions.

Temperature range

Another highly important consideration when it comes to antifreeze/ coolant is the temperature range that the engine will mostly be operating under, which largely depends on the climate and weather conditions of where you live.

For example, colder weathers require a higher concentration of coolant versus water, so that you get more antifreeze and protect the engine better from failing to start due to cold weather. A good ratio here would be 60:40, or even 70:30 if the climate is really cold.

On the other hand, warm and tropical locations would do just fine with a standard 50:50 mixture of coolant and water.

Overview

Antifreeze/ coolants play an important function in ensuring that your car engine runs smoothly and doesn’t encounter any problems due to extreme internal and external temperatures. These fluids also keep your engine safe from damage due to rust and corrosion.

As such, it’s only natural to want to purchase the best antifreeze/ coolant for your vehicle so that you can get the best possible engine performance for the longest time possible. As long as you know the things to look out for, you’re sure to find a coolant that works for you and your car.

My best recommendation for you is the Evans EC53001 High Performance Waterless Coolant, a highly rated and high performing antifreeze/ coolant that works for all types of vehicles and engines, and offers superior protective properties to keep your engine in peak condition for longer.