Can you mix universal coolant with red coolant?
Even so, universal coolants are formulated to mix with virtually any coolant. The makers of these product say their antifreeze can be safely used in any year, make or model of vehicle. You can mix two different colors of the same kind of coolant without any problem whatsoever.
What happens if I mix coolants?
What exactly happens when these coolants are mixed? The coolant stops flowing through the system, clogs up coolant passageways and water jackets, radiators, and heater cores. The water pump overheats and fails due to a lack of lubricant in the coolant. Head gaskets blow, heads warp, and the engine suffers major damage.
What happens if you mix old coolant with new coolant?
Check if you have orange or green antifreeze first; mixing the two will clog and damage your cooling system. They do sell antifreeze that is compatible with both but I’ve never tried it, add at your own risk.
Why did my coolant turn red?
It’s also possible the coolant is red because of a leak into the radiator from the trans cooler.
Is there a difference between red and green 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.
Can you mix 2 different brands of 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).
Can I change red coolant to green?
So basically, you’d want to stick to the coolant that the car was made for. If you have an older car, say that came with green coolant, you can flush it all out and put the newer style coolant in and then change it every five years or 150,000 miles. It’s perfectly backwards compatible if you want to do that.
What color should old coolant be?
Most people think of antifreeze or coolant as green. For years many antifreeze/coolants were green in color but now many coolants come in a variety of colors. Antifreeze or coolant can be yellow, pink or red, blue, and green. The color of the antifreeze/coolant is really based on the formula.
Is there pink and red antifreeze for trucks?
Both pink antifreeze (no, not the same stuff as used in the toilet in your camper at the lake house) and red are sold for truck use. These should not be confused with the pink or red HOAT coolants used on imported vehicles because they are designed specifically for trucks.
When did people start mixing coolant with anti freeze liquid?
When people started mixing the coolant with anti-freeze liquid the first compound to be used was methanol. However, since most the radiators where vented, methanol evaporated through the radiator seals and this required constant replacement. Radiator caps later become sealed.
What makes an extended life antifreeze turn orange?
It is also an ethylene glycol based chemical, but there are additives in it that cause it to turn orange. These attitudes are what make it an extended life kind of antifreeze. That means it will last longer in your vehicle without needing to be changed, and it has enhanced anti-corrosion properties to allow that to happen.
Where can I buy old radiator coolant fluid?
Some auto repair shops and dealerships may accept old antifreeze for reprocessing, sometimes for a small charge. In some communities, any retailer who sells antifreeze is required by law to also have procedures for processing old antifreeze.