Your coolant is low while you’re behind the hood monitoring fluid levels. When you open the coolant reservoir to add more, you notice the antifreeze colors don’t match the bottle you have. Is it safe to add the antifreeze now?
Antifreeze should never be used with anything else. Manufacturers purposefully pick distinct colors to distinguish between chemical compositions. It is possible to convert antifreeze to acid by combining the ingredients.
I’ll go through the many forms of antifreeze and their relevance, as well as why it’s a bad idea to combine different types of antifreeze.
Understanding Antifreeze Types
Ethylene glycol solution, the standard antifreeze that we still use today, was first made available to the public in 1926. Additives stabilize this very poisonous and caustic combination. Even though the antifreeze can endure a long time in an enclosed system with no leak, its additives will eventually wear out and the antifreeze will corrode components.
At the time, radiators were copper-plated, thus this wasn’t an issue. However, radiators constructed of aluminum required to be flushed more frequently. Because aluminum radiators are standard on contemporary cars, and because regular antifreeze replacement is no longer necessary, using an earlier type of antifreeze might seriously harm your vehicle.
What Do The Colors Mean?
While it’s true that ethylene glycol is blue, propylene glycol is green, and organic acid-based antifreeze is red, this isn’t a reliable approach to determine the composition of the antifreeze.
Antifreeze is, in fact, colored to make it more apparent in the coolant reservoir and to aid in the detection of any leaks that may occur. It’s easy to get caught up in the color of the antifreeze while looking for the proper one for your car, but you should always verify its chemical composition before buying.
Diluted vs Undiluted Antifreeze
For your convenience, antifreeze is available in diluted and undiluted forms. It’s more difficult to transport and costs more money to convey an undiluted solution, but a diluted solution may be poured directly into the automobile and used to fill it off while you’re on the road.
Inorganic Acid Technology
Using the abbreviation IAT (Inorganic Acid Technology), you may quickly find out if the antifreeze you’re using is compatible with your vehicle’s specifications.
In IAT antifreeze, MEG (mono ethylene glycol), MPG (mon propylene glycol), and PME (propylene glycol methyl ether) are the three most prominent bases. Since of its low toxicity, MPG is commonly used in food processing; MEG is commonly found in automotive antifreeze; and propylene glycol methyl ether is commonly used in heavy-duty diesel engines because it is so volatile.
The ‘original green ethylene glycol solution,’ as it is commonly called, is a mixture of distilled water, MEG, and stabilizers. Manufacturers began to phase out the original green in the 1990s in favor of less hazardous alternatives.
There are a variety of green and blue colors available for IAT antifreeze, however the brightest hue is recommended. Blue is the most common color for heavy-duty diesel systems, but red is also an option.
The Amazon Product Advertising API was used to get these prices.
Please note that product prices and availability are subject to change at any time. This product’s pricing and availability will be determined by the [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] information presented at the time of purchase.
Organic Acid Technology
In contrast to IAT solutions, OAT (Organic Acid Technology) solutions normally do not employ any phosphate or silicate to stabilize the ethylene glycol, making them safer for current engines.
While the OAT solutions are typically red, there are a few other colors that you may come across; they include green and blue. Always look for phosphates or silicates in OAT antifreeze to see whether it’s a hybrid solution before purchasing.
The Amazon Product Advertising API was used to get these prices.
Please note that product prices and availability are subject to change at any time. This product’s pricing and availability will be determined by the [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] information presented at the time of purchase.
Hybrid Organic Acid Technology
HOAT antifreeze is difficult to define, although phosphates, silicates, or benzoate are commonly used as the solution inhibitor. The inhibitors (additives) from the IAT antifreeze are combined with the OAT antifreeze to create a hybrid.
However, HOAT antifreeze can also be found in a variety of shades of light or dark blue as well as pink and even purple.
The Amazon Product Advertising API was used to get these prices.
Please note that product prices and availability are subject to change at any time. This product’s pricing and availability will be determined by the [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] information presented at the time of purchase.
Dex-Cool Antifreeze
Some Ford and Chrysler vehicles also employ Dex cool, a proprietary antifreeze solution created by General Motors (GM) for vehicles manufactured after 1995. It’s a HOAT solution with a longer lifespan, according to the manufacturer.
When it was discovered that Dex cool caused manifold gasket failures and serves as a plasticizer, it sparked a lot of controversy. Class action lawsuits against GM were settled in 2007 and 2008, but the company’s bankruptcy in 2009 delayed the process of compensating owners.
As a result of these changes, the Dex Cool solution has been enhanced and manufactured by well-known brands. Dex cool is always a vivid orange color, unlike other antifreeze treatments.
The Amazon Product Advertising API was used to get these prices.
Please note that product prices and availability are subject to change at any time. This product’s pricing and availability will be determined by the [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] information presented at the time of purchase.
Why You Shouldn’t Mix Antifreeze
While the preceding sections of this guide have given you quite a chemistry lesson, it is necessary to understand why different colors of antifreeze cannot be mixed together.
While it’s possible to find an antifreeze with the same chemical make-up, it’s quite unlikely that the other antifreeze has the same stabilizers. As a result, the coolant may become corrosive or thicker when different additives are mixed together.
Even the same color of antifreeze, in my opinion, isn’t an assurance that you’re getting the correct mixture. This could be the case in the past, when the supply was restricted, but now since there are so many possibilities, it’s improbable that two red antifreeze containers have the same chemical composition.
The best course of action is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for antifreeze kind or brand for the entire time that you own the car. If you ever need to top off your antifreeze, having an extra bottle in your trunk will serve as a handy reminder of what kind to buy next time you need to flush the system.
A clogged radiator can be cleaned with vinegar or baking soda, as described in the article titled How To Flush Your Radiator With Vinegar or Baking Soda (Is It Safe? So, don’t forget to have a look!
How to Replace Antifreeze
Please note that product prices and availability are subject to change at any time. This product’s pricing and availability will be determined by the [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] information presented at the time of purchase.
Most of the equipment you’ll need to replace the antifreeze are likely already in your toolbox. You’ll need to remove the skid plate to access the coolant drainage plug on some automobiles. Using a car jack, you’ll need to lift the vehicle up, and I recommend securing it with two jack supports.
Replacing Antifreeze: These are the steps:
Drainage pan volume levels should be checked against the remaining antifreeze in your antifreeze container to ensure you’re using the correct amount of antifreeze. Having filled the coolant system to MAX without using up all of the antifreeze indicates that there is an air bubble in the system. Do the following to eliminate it:
How to Measure Antifreeze Concentration
Checking the antifreeze concentration in your system is a good idea when winter is approaching. One basic and simple tool is all that is needed for this procedure.
The Amazon Product Advertising API was used to get these prices.
Please note that product prices and availability are subject to change at any time. This product’s pricing and availability will be determined by the [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] information presented at the time of purchase.
Steps to Measure Antifreeze Concentration
There are only two options if your coolant can’t withstand a frigid winter: replace it or keep it warm. Remove some of the coolant and refill the reservoir with undiluted antifreeze, or swap out the coolant entirely. It’s not that expensive, and you won’t have to wonder about it anymore if you do it this way.
FAQs
Why does my temperature gauge move up and down while driving?
A changing temperature gauge is not a good indication, and the source must be discovered soon to avoid engine damage. The most common culprits are a malfunctioning thermostat, a broken water pump, or a lack of coolant.
Is there a difference between red and green antifreeze?
This article has shown that the color of the antifreeze doesn’t necessarily indicate a distinct chemical composition, but the difference between the two is usually substantial as we’ve shown. Inorganic acid technology antifreeze is often green, while organic acid technology antifreeze or hybrids are typically red in color.
Summary
Always use the same type of antifreeze, regardless of whether you need to top up or replace it. Doing so can cause major damage to the engine, and there’s no good reason to do it when all forms of antifreeze cost roughly the same.
Buying distilled water will do the trick if you run out of antifreeze and are stranded in the middle of nowhere without a choice. But it will bring you home where you may cleanse the system or top up with 100% antifreeze to compensate for the dilution of your coolant mixture.
