Different Coolant Types
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.
What is the difference between red and blue coolant?
Mix the concentrate 50:50 with water to produce a 50% solution. Antifreeze Blue is a full concentrate which meets BS6580 and contains the same pure ethylene glycol and anti-corrosive additives as the Red. Its application is for protection for up to a maximum of 2 years.
Can I just top up coolant in my car?
If your coolant level is too low (below or near the lower mark), top it up using a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze (for normal driving conditions), or pour pre-mixed antifreeze straight into the reservoir. You can use clean tap water in an emergency, but antifreeze should be added as soon as possible.
What coolant fluid do I need for my car?
Cars made after 1998 normally need antifreeze that uses silicate-free, organic acid technology (OAT). These types of antifreeze offer better corrosion protection so that parts don’t need to be changed as often. Cars made before 1998 usually need antifreeze that isn’t OAT-based and that does contain silicate.
Does it matter what coolant I put in my car? – Related Questions
Does the color of coolant matter?
The truth is, color is not a reliable predictor for what type of coolant you have.
Can I use water instead of coolant?
Technically speaking yes you can use plain water in your cooling system but it isn’t recommended as a long term solution and certainly not in extreme weather conditions. The problem with using water in your cooling system is that water freezes at 0°C.
Is radiator fluid the same as coolant?
And now you know that antifreeze and coolant are basically the same thing and can be generically referred to as radiator fluid. And you also know this fluid is key to keeping your vehicle engine in good working order and helps prevent it from freezing or overheating in any weather.
Can I put antifreeze in my engine coolant?
Adding antifreeze on top offers an extra layer of protection in the winter. As a result, you can use coolant without antifreeze, but not the other way around. You can put antifreeze straight into the coolant tank but there may be a leak if you need to top up a lot.
What is the difference between engine coolant and radiator coolant?
At Sweeney Buick-GMC, we often get asked what is the difference between engine coolant and radiator coolant? No difference exists between these two names, as the fluid within both are the same. In fact, the radiator cools the engine coolant after it runs through the engine.
Can I use blue coolant instead of green?
Both coolants will work equally as well in your Nissan, so in terms of a performance benefit there really isn’t a difference. We personally would probably use Nissan Green as it comes in concentrated form (makes it a bit cheaper) and feel that changing the coolant more regularly is better for preventative maintenance.
What happens if you put the wrong coolant in your car?
Using the wrong engine coolant can gradually lead to corrosion and damage to the water pump, radiator, radiator hoses and cylinder gasket. This can lead to damage to the engine in the worst case.
Which colour coolant is best?
The colors of coolant
- IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology), for older vehicles – Green.
- OAT (Organic Acid Technology), for GM, saab, VW – Orange.
- HOAT ( Hybrid OAT), Ford, Chrysler, European – Turquoise.
- P-HOAT ( Phosphated HOAT), Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, KIA and other Asia vehicles – Pink/Blue.
What color coolants can you mix?
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.
Can you add new coolant to old coolant?
If I am refilling the coolant in my car and there is still some left, is it okay to mix them? If it comes to mixing different brands there is no problem, when it comes to old versus new, its okay to mix old and new as long as they are of the same type.
What do coolant colors mean?
The color of healthy engine coolant is green (for ethylene glycol) or orange (for Dexcool). A rusty color indicates that the rust inhibitor in the coolant has broken down and it can no longer control rust and scale buildup.
What brands of coolant are orange?
Prestone® American Vehicles (Orange) Antifreeze + Coolant – Prestone® Total Protection.
Is it OK to mix coolant colors?
Can You Mix Orange and Green Antifreeze? 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 mix different brands of orange coolant?
Thankfully, the short answer is, yes, you can mix two brands of coolant. They just have to be the same type of coolant. Different coolants do different things, and mixing two different types of coolants can damage your radiator. Check the bottles to see if they are the same type.
Can you mix orange and yellow coolant?
Edit: Did a Google search ” The two coolants should never be mixed together as they do not react well. When mixed together they can form a thick, jelly-like substance that can completely stop all coolant flow which can lead to overheating.”
Is yellow coolant universal?
Majestic Yellow Universal Antifreeze / Coolant is a premium quality antifreeze / coolant that is compatible with all automotive and light duty truck antifreeze / coolant products. In automobiles, this antifreeze should provide service life in excess of 5 years or 150,000 miles.
