Antifreeze is a colored fluid poured into the radiator or coolant reservoir to help regulate your engine temperature during extreme weather conditions. As the engine and ambient temperature changes, the antifreeze travels from the radiator to the engine blocks and maintains optimal operating temperature.
Antifreeze, however, does much more than regulating engine temperature. It also prevents rust in coolant lines and other cooling system components. But using the wrong type of antifreeze will increase the risk of engine overheating, which could cause catastrophic engine breakdown. To avoid this, most motorists often ask – what type of antifreeze does my car take?
Antifreeze Types Explored
There are different types of antifreeze on the market shelves. We’ll decipher the difference among them and why you should consider coolant color when shopping for antifreeze. Firstly, we have 50-50 and full-strength antifreeze.
A full-strength antifreeze requires mixing it with distilled water before pouring it into your radiator or coolant reservoir. The 50-50 antifreeze, or coolant, is a pre-mixed antifreeze and water.
With antifreeze, you decide on what blend ratio to use based on the weather conditions. For instance, a 50-50 blend is ideal for protecting winter temperatures of around -30 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, if you live in regions with extremely cold temperatures, use a 60-40 antifreeze and distilled water mixture.
Note: Do not refill your coolant reservoir or radiator with 100% antifreeze. The antifreeze will freeze at 10 degrees Fahrenheit instead of -30 degrees if you do so. And do not mix antifreeze with tap water. Drinking water contains some dissolved chlorine or chemicals that will cause issues in the cooling system.
Let’s examine various types of coolants for cars and see how to identify them by their colors. This will help you avoid mistaking one type of engine coolant for another. Plus, a change in coolant or antifreeze color will tell you when the coolant is contaminated or getting at the end of its service lifespan.
IAT (Inorganic Acid Technology)
This is the oldest type of antifreeze and coolant with bright green color. Most car manufacturers stopped using this coolant in 1994, while Ford Motors continued using it until 2002.
European and Asian car manufacturers stopped using this type of antifreeze in 1990. IAT antifreeze contains silicates and phosphate that work fine with copper or aluminum radiators and cast iron engine blocks.
Manufacturers recommend you change or flush the coolant at least once in two years or every 36,000 miles. If you disregard this recommendation and allow the coolant to stay there for an extended period, its efficiency will degrade and invariably affects the cooling system’s performance. In addition, the IAT cool will clog the heater core if you fail to flush or change it as recommended.
OAT (Organic Acid Technology)
The organic acid technology antifreeze typically has blue, orange, red, or dark green color. It doesn’t contain any silicates or phosphate compounds. It is suitable for cars built after 1994 with an extended service life of 150,000 miles or five years.
However, you need to confirm the recommended antifreeze for your car. You may wonder, how do I know which coolant to use in my car? We’ll explain that in the following few paragraphs.
HOAT ( Hybrid Organic Acid Technology)
The hybrid organic acid technology antifreeze is a blend of IAT and OAT antifreeze. They typically come in yellow, blue, purple, pink, or turquoise. The HOAT antifreeze is perfect for modern Chrysler, Asian, and European cars.
From the above explanation, you can make a proper buying decision when searching for coolant types for diesel engines. The above engine coolants are suitable for both petrol and diesel engines. But let’s see how to choose the proper antifreeze for your car.