If you are like me and take care of your own vehicle, the confusing world of antifreeze has probably confronted you. I remember the first time I looked at the row of green and orange bottles. I wondered if they all meant the same thing. If so, why was it important to know which one I was using? Compared to what I was about to discover, I realized that this was going to play a more important role than I had thought!
What is Green Antifreeze, really?
Green antifreeze is the traditional and old fashioned coolant known as IAT (Inorganic Acid Technology) antifreeze. If you drive a vehicle built prior to the mid-1990’s, it is this type of coolant that your vehicle was designed to use. Green antifreeze uses silicates and phosphates for the prevention of rust and corrosion in the cooling system. This is especially important in older vehicles with metal components. The catch? It needs to be changed much more frequently. You should say every two or three years or 30,000 miles.
If your car is a classic or has had some fountain of years, you may still want to continue to use green antifreeze to keep it running smoothly. However, I find it always wise to check your manual. Be absolutely sure you are using the proper one!
Then there is the orange anti-freeze known as OAT (Organic Acid Technology) antifreeze. This is usually recommended for more modern vehicles and has a longer life than the green antifreeze. Instead of the silicates and phosphates, the orange anti-freeze uses organic acids for the prevention of corrosion. For the rest of us with later modded cars, use for up to a maximum of five years or 150,000 miles. After that, virtually no maintenance.
I can’t be the only one who thought all anti-freese did the same thing. Mixing green to orange or the contrary is more than a colour mixing job. Each is for a special engine type and cooling systems. Using the wrong one is going to have a very great effect on how well protected the car is. This is against overheating and corrosion.
Can You Mix Green to Orange?
This was probably one of the first big questions I had, when I first came across the different types of green anti-freese and the different colour etc. Mixing ut anti-freeses does not seem important, but the mixing creates such a thick, jelly type of substance in the cooling system. Imagine sludge in your radiator. Not a very good thing to have to deal with. Mixing will create overheating, blockage, and deterioration of engine. This happens in a short space of time. If you do not know which type of anti-freese your car is running before adding any fresh coolants into the system, you should do a total tank full flushing.
When to Use a Green Anti-Freese.
Here is the rule of thumb I use.
For Older Cars: If you have olden type of car, (`90’s type type car or elder before) the green anti-freese is the thing to use. If your manual specifies it: Always check your owner’s manual. If it tells you IAT or green antifreeze, then stick with that so you don’t get into trouble.
Changing it regular is important: Green antifreeze needs to be changed more often. If you are up to the task of checking frequently, this should work well. It will keep an older engine in good shape.
Green antifreeze may take a bit more attention, but it’s worth it. It keeps your classic mode of transportation from having cooling problems.
When to use orange antifreeze
Now if you have a newer car or one with more refined engine technology, the orange antifreeze is definitely a good choice.
For newer cars: Most of the modern vehicles are engineered to run on OAT antifreeze (the orange variety). It is specifically suited to protect types of materials such as aluminum and is easier on the newer engine technology.
Longer life span: The orange antifreeze is a good type because it will last up to five years. You won’t be working under the oral cavity changing the antifreeze all the time.
Refer to the manual again: Once again, the manual will tell you what is better. If it tells you theme orange, it will work for you. It is suited to the engine to protect the engine without any additives. These additives are maybe not necessary in the newer technology.
Choosing the right antifreeze
Choosing the antifreeze that is right is not a mere matter of grabbing something in a color box of antifreeze off the shelf. It is a matter of putting the proper substance of coolant into it, that it pertains to the engine. It puts it into good condition. Let me tell you, when you learn the different types of antifreeze, it is a matter of much simpler maintenance. It is not so full of nervousness. The green antifreeze may actually be adaptable to the older type of car while the orange antifreeze is better suited to the modern type of car. Just one little request: don’t mix the two. Or else, a flush and refill is far simpler. This is better than having to bother with a sore or broken down or cabled radiator, or anything else.
So when you go into the auto store buy the antifreeze that is right for you. You can be doing a service for you and the engine both.
