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What is a Coolant?

When you drive a vehicle, the engine becomes hot due to the continuous combustion of fuel. If there is no coolant the engine, the engine will seize and become permanently damaged beyond operation, because a coolants function is to cool the engine from the heat it generates.

A coolant is made up of only three components:

  1. Water – which cools the engine.
  2. Monoethylene Glycol – which prevents water from freezing at cold temperatures and boiling at hot temperatures (since these events will interfere with the cooling system).
  3. Anti-corrosion additive – which prevents the engine from rust, by protecting engine surfaces in contact with the coolant

What are the two types of coolants you can purchase?

  • READYMIX OR PREMIX COOLANTS: These coolants are already mixed with water. You use them as is.
  • CONCENTRATE COOLANTS: These coolants must be mixed with water and then can be used. They are mostly Monoethylene Glycol, with a small percentage of anti-corrosion additive.

Can you use a concentrate coolant without mixing it with water?

You cannot use a concentrate coolant if you have not mixed it with water. (Back to basics, each component has its function.)

Remember: water cools the engine. A concentrate does not contain water, therefore you must mix it with water. A concentrate will not effectively cool your engine on its own.

The amount of water to be mixed with a coolant determines the freezing and boiling temperatures i.e. if the ratio is 50/50 the coolant can freeze at -37°C and boil at 110°C, and this is the recommended mixing ratio.

The table below shows other mixing ratios:

 % volume of Total Glacelf Auto Supra

 33%

 40%

 50%

 Freezing Point in °C

 -20

 -26

 -37

 Boiling Point in °C

 105

 107

 110

We advise you not to go below the 67/33 mixing ratio, otherwise you will reduce the protection offered by the anti-corrosion additive.

PREMIX or READYMIX COOLANT is also known as 50/50, this means 50% concentrate and 50% water, and there is also a percentage of anti-corrosion additive. This can cool up to -37°C.

Remember that this coolant is already mixed, therefore you can use it as is.

Why does one coolant perform better than another coolant?

  • The ratio of dilution with water as explained above affects peformance.
  • The duration of time that the coolant can last in your engine. This is determined by the type of anti-corrosion additive used. Traditional additives (mineral based) do not last very long as they get depleted. Newer technology OAT (Organic Acid Technology) lasts much longer. Coolants that can be used for two years or more are often known as Long-Life Coolants.

TotalEnergies has two different types of coolants, namely:

Both Total Coolelf Auto Supra -37°C and Total Glacelf Auto Supra are Long-Life Coolants with OAT.

See typical change intervals below, but always consult your car manual to be sure:

  • 500 000 km / 4 years when used in trucks
  • 250 000 km / 5 years when used in cars