Is Antifreeze Flammable? (Unusual Facts)

The importance of antifreeze is much appreciated during the winter and cold seasons. Antifreeze is also called engine coolant and is mixed with water and poured into the car’s radiator to regulate your engine during extreme temperatures.

As the weather changes from hot to cold, antifreeze is pumped throughout the engine block to maintain an even operating temperature.

For most car enthusiasts and drivers, they might have wondered at one point or the other whether antifreeze can catch fire. So, is antifreeze flammable?

Yes, antifreeze is flammable. According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), both ethylene glycol and propylene glycol antifreeze are flammable. Their flashpoints determine the flammability of most liquids.

Antifreeze has a flashpoint of approximately 232 degrees Fahrenheit (111 Celsius) and an auto-ignition temperature between 950- and 1245-degrees Fahrenheit which thus makes it a flammable liquid.

Let’s examine other exciting properties of antifreeze and its level of flammability.

What is Antifreeze/Coolant?

Before starting an in-depth conversation on the flammable nature of antifreeze, we are aware that not all our readers are car enthusiasts or drivers.

Thus, the question on the flammability of antifreeze might be a bit alien since they don’t know what antifreeze is.

Antifreeze is also called an engine coolant. It is a colored liquid that is combined with water to help regulate your engine during extreme temperatures.

As mentioned in the introductory part of this post, the importance of this liquid is very much appreciated during the cold winter.

Apart from regulating the temperature of your vehicle, the fluid also plays an essential role in maintaining proper fluid levels of your car and also helps to prevent corrosion.

The liquid is usually mixed in a 50/50 ratio with water and into the proper reservoir in your engine.

Antifreeze contains chemical “ethylene glycol,” which helps regulate and maintain an optimal operating temperature during extreme hot or cold weather conditions for your vehicle.

Is Antifreeze Flammable?

Yes, antifreeze is flammable, but there is a caveat: it is pretty rare for it to burn when in use in the car’s engine. Thus, you shouldn’t be scared or anxious; the chances of the antifreeze in your car catching fire are pretty slim.

There are two types of antifreeze: ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Both are quite flammable.

The flammability of this liquid is supported by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that has formally stated antifreeze as a flammable liquid.

For more emphasis, JCM Machine & Coatings asserted that there are fair cases of engine fires that have been caused by the auto-ignition of antifreeze within the engine.

Is Water-Based Antifreeze Flammable?

Another question might be, is water-based antifreeze flammable? It is quite rare for this type of antifreeze to catch fire on its own. The fuel in your car is likely to cause a car fire.

It can be argued that water-based antifreeze will rarely catch fire since the water component will quench the fire.

This is not exactly feasible since the water will evaporate fast, leaving the glycol component to continue combusting.

What About Ethyl-Glycol-Based Antifreeze?

Ethyl-glycol is also flammable. However, it has been experimented that the liquid can only catch fire at the right temperature. At least a temperature from 650 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit is enough to make antifreeze catch fire.

You shouldn’t panic; reaching such temperatures in normal conditions is hard unless the car is on fire. With a flashpoint of 232-degrees Fahrenheit, it will require a lot of heat for you to trigger antifreeze burning.

It is almost impossible for antifreeze to be the primary cause of a fire; it is a secondary cause of fire after a much powerful trigger like car fuel or short-circuiting.

Is RV Antifreeze Flammable?

Yes, RV antifreeze is flammable. Remember that we mentioned that there are two types of antifreeze: ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Both types are flammable and thus shouldn’t be kept close to a naked flame.

Safety Measures When Handling Antifreeze

From this post, we have established that antifreeze is flammable. It follows that you need to adopt some safety precautions when handling the liquid, such as:

1. Storing It Safely

All flammable liquid should be stored safely out of the reach of children. You definitely don’t want a visit to the ER because your child ingested antifreeze.

It doesn’t make things easy that the ethyl component gives antifreeze a sweet smell which children or pets may be attracted to. Significant ingestion of the liquid may cause liver failure or even death!

2. Keeping the Label On

Always make sure the liquid is labeled correctly, so you don’t mistake it for another liquid.

3. Keeping Away from Fire

This is quite a clear instruction. Since we have already established that antifreeze is flammable, you don’t want to keep it close to a naked flame.

4. Avoiding Contact with Skin

Handle antifreeze carefully, so it doesn’t come in contact with your skin. It might cause slight reddening or dermatitis on the skin. Wash with soap and water immediately after the liquid comes in touch with your skin.

Conclusion | Can Antifreeze Catch Fire?

It goes without saying that antifreeze is an essential product for your car, especially in the cold seasons. The fluid helps in your vehicle’s cooling system by preventing the cooling unit enclosure from expanding during freezing, which can make it burst.

The fluid also has anti-corrosion properties that prevent metal and rubber parts from wearing out.

Once again, is antifreeze flammable? Yes it is, and while we have established that antifreeze is a flammable liquid, we want to emphasize that it is quite rare for the fluid to be the primary cause of your car’s engine catching fire.

Read Also:

• Is Power Steering Fluid Flammable?
• Is Motor Oil Flammable?
• Is Hydraulic Fluid Flammable?