Is antifreeze and engine coolant the same?

Answer 1

"Engine coolant" can mean water or anti-freeze, whichever circulates through the engine to draw heat from the block, through the radiator where it is cooled by the fan and then recirculated. Anti-freeze (ethylene glycol, which is sweet-tasting and often fatally ingested by pets and children) is preferred over water because it doesn't promote rust and is a more effective coolant. There are numerous types of coolant/antifreeze on the market and NO they are not all the same. Though many contain ethylene or proplyene glycol the corrosion and rust inhibitors vary greatly from type to type. For example Dexcool (orange) is an HOAT coolant and should not be used in Ford motor vehicles. You should follow the manufacturers instructions and use the correct coolant. No matter what some companies say i.e. prestone, there is no such thing as "any make, any model, any color" coolant.