Most conventional green or blue coolants
Coolant
A coolant is a fluid which flows through or around a device to prevent the device from overheating, transferring the heat produced by the device to other devices that either use or dissipate it. An ideal coolant has high thermal capacity, low viscosity, is low-cost, non-toxic, chemically inert, and neither causes nor promotes corrosion of the cooling system.
Ethylene glycol
Ethylene glycol is an organic compound with the formula₂. It is mainly used for two purposes, as a raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibers and for antifreeze formulations. It is an odorless, colorless, sweet-tasting, viscous liquid. Ethylene glycol is toxic. Household pets are especially sus…
Propylene glycol
Propylene glycol is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH₃CH(OH)CH₂OH. It is a viscous, colorless liquid which is nearly odorless but possesses a faintly sweet taste. Containing two alcohol groups, it is classed as a diol. It is miscible with a broad range of solvents, includin…
What is the difference between Green and red Universal coolant?
Green coolant is your conventional coolant (Ethylene Glycol base) and is the most common type of coolant found. Red coolant is typically has a base of Organic Acid Technology which has a different chemical makeup of green coolant and is designed to be suitable for aluminium radiators. Herein, can you mix universal coolant?
What is a universal coolant?
The basic idea behind universal coolants is to eliminate all the confusion about colors and chemistry and have one basic product that works in any vehicle regardless of year, make or model. What could be simpler?
What's in a color of coolant?
These days, however, there are universal coolants on the market that provide a broad spectrum of protection. What's in a Color? Decades ago, the color of specific coolants related directed to the chemicals they used to prevent corrosion. Red, pink, green, blue, orange, yellow —it all got so confusing.
What is “green” antifreeze?
Traditional North American “green” antifreeze, the original “universal” formula that everybody used until the introduction of today’s extended-life coolants.
Is all green coolant the same?
Typically, Valvoline says, coolant comes in green. But there are other colors available: orange, blue, purple, even yellow and pink. However, they're not different colors for appearance's sake. Each manufacturer designs its engines around a specific coolant or antifreeze standard with different additives.
Can you mix green and universal coolant?
If the old coolant is traditional green coolant, the new universal coolant will be diluted and won't be able to extend protection much beyond that of the original coolant.
Can green coolant be used in any car?
Green Antifreeze Green engine coolants are designed for use in older cars (think pre-2000), ones that contain a lot of steel and copper components in the cooling system. To protect these metallic parts from rust and corrosion, Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) gets added to the mix.
Can you mix different brands of green coolant?
The short answer is that you can mix different coolant brands and mixtures as long as they are the same type of coolant. The color doesn't matter as much since it's just a dye.
Which antifreeze is universal?
STP® Universal (All Season) Antifreeze/Coolant is a superior quality ethylene glycol-based engine coolant with a low silicate corrosion inhibitor package. This product protects coolant system metals, including heat-rejecting aluminum, against pitting caused by cavitation and corrosion.
Does the coolant color matter?
The truth is, color is not a reliable predictor for what type of coolant you have.
What happens if I put wrong coolant in car?
Using the wrong coolant can lead to corrosion and other damages to the radiator, water pump, radiator hoses, cylinder gasket, and more. The best way to ensure you get the correct coolant is to have your vehicle maintenance performed by a professional auto technician.
What happens if you put green coolant instead of red?
In fact, if you were to mix green and red antifreeze together, it would end up creating a thick gel that would fail to flow through your cooling system properly. This can cause overheating, as well as damage to various components of your car's cooling system.
Is coolant Universal for cars?
Different vehicles require different coolants. There are varieties for every type of vehicle, from diesel engines to American, Asian and European vehicles. Each one is specifically formulated to keep its designated engine type running in extreme temperatures.
Is it OK to mix coolant colors?
It's never a good idea to mix two different colors or types of antifreeze. Mixing two formulas won't cause any dangerous reactions or explosions, but it could turn your coolant into a sludgy chemical mixture that won't be able to flow properly through your cooling system.
Can you put any coolant in any car?
There are lots of different types of antifreeze and it's crucial to understand that there is no single antifreeze that's suitable for all makes and models. The best thing to do is to always use the antifreeze that's recommended by your car manufacturer.
Can I mix yellow and green coolant?
You can mix two different colors of the same kind of coolant without any problem whatsoever. But if you mix a significant amount of one type in with the other type, you're weakening your corrosion inhibitors (it happened to my brother, and look at the condition he's in now).
What is universal coolant?
The basic idea behind universal coolants is to eliminate all the confusion about colors and chemistry and have one basic product that works in any vehicle regardless of year, make or model.
What is green antifreeze?
Traditional North American “ green” antifreeze, the original “universal” formula that everybody used until the introduction of today’s extended-life coolants. The fast-acting silicate and phosphate corrosion inhibitors provide quick protection for bare iron and aluminum surfaces, and have a proven track record of providing trouble-free service in ...
How long does an OAT coolant last?
Consequently, OAT coolants typically have a recommended service life of five years or 150,000 miles. OAT corrosion inhibitors provide excellent long-term protection for aluminum and cast iron, but may not be the best choice for older cooling systems that have copper/brass radiators and heater cores.
Why can't you go by the color of the coolant?
You can’t go by the color of the dye in the coolant because two coolants with similar colors may have different chemistry, and two coolants with different colors may have similar chemistry. What’s more, colors can change if somebody tops off the system with a different coolant. Advertisement.
How long does antifreeze last?
It remains five years or 150,000 miles. If a universal coolant is added to an older vehicle that has traditional green antifreeze in the cooling system, the service interval is also the same as before: two to three years or 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Advertisement.
What is an OAT coolant?
OAT-based extended-life coolants. OAT stands for Organic Acid Technology, and includes such ingredients as sebacate, 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA) and other organic acids, but no silicates or phosphates (except in the case of Toyota’s pink extended-life coolant, which adds a dose of phosphate to its extended-life OAT-based antifreeze).
Why flush a cooling system with universal coolant?
If a cooling system is being refilled with a universal coolant, the cooling system should be flushed to remove all traces of the old coolant. This is necessary to remove contaminants and to maximize the service life of the new coolant. If only the radiator is drained, up to a third of the old coolant can remain in the block.
What is antifreeze coolant?
Antifreeze & Coolant features a patented, advanced organic acid technology that provides guaranteed lifetime protection for as long as you own your vehicle. Patented inhibitors provide maximum protection against damaging rust and corrosion in all automobiles and light trucks worldwide, regardless of make, model, year or original antifreeze color.
What is patented antifreeze?
Patented inhibitors provide maximum, year-round protection against damaging rust and corrosion in all automobiles and light trucks worldwide, regardless of make, model, year, or original antifreeze color.
What is coolant made of?
This was especially important when the primary item that coolant was protecting from was rust in cast iron in engine blocks, heads, and other engine components in the cooling system made from iron.
What color is antifreeze?
If you are unsure what antifreeze is in your system, the antifreeze is brown, an off-color from what is recommended, or what has been put in is an HOAT “all makes” antifreeze, the best option is to plan a flush as soon as possible. Lastly, we need to discuss water, because it’s actually not the easy part!
What is antifreeze made of?
Traditional antifreeze (the old green stuff) is known as IAT antifreeze, which refers to Inorganic Acid Technology. It was fortified with silicates and phosphates, which were used primarily to keep corrosion down within the system.
How long does antifreeze last?
The life of IAT antifreeze breaks down heavily around 36,000 miles in the system, causing massive corrosive issues once the coolant begins to break down. It breaks down so bad, that it can even begin to conduct electricity through electrolysis and begin eating your system from the inside!
