Is Motorcycle Coolant the Same as Car Coolant?

It doesn’t matter what vehicle you’re riding; you will undoubtedly face overheating as a common issue, and that’s why coolant. Now the question arises, is motorcycle coolant the same as car coolant? 

Motorcycle coolants aren’t the same as car coolant because mostly all car coolant contains silicates that corrode the motorbike engine parts made from aluminum and magnesium. If you want to use car coolant in your motorbike, it’s better to check the ingredients list of coolant. 

Let’s look at what you mean and what you can do about it. 

While writing this post, I leave no stone unturned so you can learn about some similarities and differences between car coolants. 

Before going further, let’s briefly understand what coolant for motorcycles is? 

What is Coolant for Motorcycles?

We all know overheating is a serious concern for any motorcycle, and that’s why riders use motorcycle coolants. Now the question is, what is motorcycle coolant?

Before understanding the motorcycle coolant, you must understand how a motorbike causes overheating. 

When riding for a long time, the piston in the engine causes friction which produces heating. 

And to tackle this problem, riders use motorcycle coolants; now, let’s see how motorcycle coolants are the same as car coolants. 

Is Motorcycle Coolant the Same as Car Coolant? 

So far, you understand what coolant is for motorcycles; now the question arises, is motorcycle coolant the same as car coolant? 

Motorcycle coolant isn’t the same as car coolant because some ingredients present in car coolant can make your motorbike engine malfunction. 

For example, some car coolant contains silicates which can corrode magnesium and aluminum parts in your motorbike engine.

In simpler words, you shouldn’t use car coolant for your motorbike without checking the ingredients. Let’s see some ingredients you should see while using car coolant for your motorbike. 

Some Ingredients Which You Should Check While Choosing Coolant?

Most riders don’t see ingredients on car coolant boxes before using them on their motorbike. Now the question arises: What are some ingredients you should check while using car coolant on your motorbike? 

Although you shouldn’t use car coolant for your motorbike, if you ever don’t have many options, you should see below the ingredients in the coolant. 

Ethylene glycol and silicates are the most important ingredients you should check when choosing coolants. 

Ethylene glycol cools your motorbike engine, and without Glycol, the coolant would be useless. Silicates can corrode your motorbike engine parts made from aluminum and magnesium. 

Not all car coolants meet the above requirements, and that’s why industry experts recommend using and sticking to one type of coolant for better performance and saving money that would otherwise waste on engine maintenance. 

How to Choose the Best Coolant for Your Motorbike?

Choosing the best coolant for your motorbike is a skill that every rider should learn, and in this section, you’ll learn some best ways to choose coolant. 

The first ingredient you should see in the coolant is ethylene glycol; it’s responsible for making your motorbike engine cool and avoiding overheating. Or the best you can choose is coolant with propylene glycol, as it’s even better than ethylene glycol. 

Another advantage of using propylene glycol is that it’s non-toxic, making it safe for use if you have kids and pets. Coolant containing ethylene glycol has a different color than propylene glycol. Experts always recommend avoiding mixing two types of coolants together. 

Can You Mix Motorcycle Coolant With Car Coolant? 

So far, you understand some ingredients which you should check before using the car coolant in your motorbike. Now the question arises, can you mix motorcycle coolant with car coolant? 

According to industry experts, both coolants have different ingredients making it unsafe to mix them. Using mixed coolants in your motorbike can also make the motorbike engine malfunction.

Even if you’re changing motorbike coolant with another brand, you should ensure your motorbike doesn’t contain traces of old coolant as mixing them together may cause technical problems.  

And that’s why experts always recommend sticking one type of motorbike coolant for a lifetime and never mixing two types of coolants together. 

What’s the Need for Motorcycle Coolant? 

So far, you understand that motorbikes produce heating when riding for a long time. Now the question arises, what’s the need for motorcycle coolant? 

When riding for a long time, the piston made from iron produces heat because of friction between the cylinder and piston. 

And metal has expansion properties causing the metal to expand when overheated. So in this sense, the piston became expanded, causing more friction which ultimately malfunctioned the engine. 

That’s why motorbike experts all around the globe recommend using coolants to protect your motorbike engine from malfunctioning. 

How Does Motorcycle Coolant Work? 

So far you understand what the need for motorcycle coolant is? Now the real question is, how does motorcycle coolant work? 

Motorcycle coolant is made from the heat-absorbing molecular formula, specially made to absorb heat when flowing from the engine. 

When flowing from the engine, the coolant absorbs almost all energy. It carries it to the radiator, which dissipates the motorbike heat into the atmosphere. 

And this is how a motorbike coolant protects your precious engine from malfunctioning and overheating. 

Can You Use Water in Place of Motorbike Coolant? 

So far, you understand what motorbike coolant is; now the question is can you use water instead of motorbike coolant? 

According to industry experts, using water as a motorbike coolant is an injustice that you can do with your motorbike. 

When overheard, your motorbike can reach over 230 F temperature making water in your engine converts into steam. 

And steam has expansion properties that can puncture inner pipes in your motorbike engine. 

That’s why experts always recommend never using water in the place of motorbike coolant. 

What to Do When Motorcycle Engines Overheat?  

I mentioned some reasons why your motorcycle engine overheats. But how will you detect if your motorbike engine overheats or not? 

Although new motorcycles have a heat indicator that will indicate something wrong with your motorcycle engine. Still, it would be best to not rely on the indicator solely. 

Detecting engine overheating isn’t wrapping your head around something. You just need to focus on some signs.

The most significant sign of motorcycle overheating is the burning sound and extra smoke coming from the exhaust. Additionally, you’ll feel extreme heat on your feet while riding. 

If your motorbike engine overheats ever, then you must pull over your motorbike and wait at least 15 minutes to cool down the motorbike engine again. 

Also, read my previous post where I’ve discussed how hot the motorbike can be, CLICK HERE to read.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Verdict:

Is motorcycle coolant the same as car coolant? Motorcycle coolants aren’t the same as car coolant because mostly all car coolant contains silicates that corrode the motorbike engine parts made from aluminum and magnesium. 

If you want to use car coolant in your motorbike, it’s better to check the ingredients list of coolant. I’ve also mentioned some ingredients you should check before choosing and using the car coolant for your motorbike.