The service life for this type of coolant is five years or 150,000 miles which seems like a long time, but it is not a lifetime coolant. The corrosion inhibitors in OAT coolants are slower acting than standard green formula coolant, but last much longer. Similar formulas include a pink-colored coolant in late-model Audi and Volkswagen vehicles and a dark green coolant in Hondas. Orange formula coolant is also used in the Mercury Cougar, and 2003 and up Saabs. The most familiar OAT-based product is Dex-Cool, which General Motors has used since 1996. While this type of coolant is primarily for older vehicles (pre-1996), it can also be used in virtually any vehicle application (domestic, Asian or European) regardless of year provided all of the old coolant is completely flushed and replaced with new.Įxtended Life OAT Formula Antifreeze that is dyed orange typically contains “Organic Acid Technology” (OAT) corrosion inhibitors such as sebacate, 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA) and other organic acids, but no silicates or phosphates. The corrosion-fighting chemicals are fast-acting, but wear out after two to three years or 36,000 miles of average use, so green coolant needs to be changed periodically to minimize the risk of corrosion damage. The green additive package contains phosphate and silicates, and provides good protection for cast iron and aluminum engine parts, as well as copper/brass radiators in older vehicles and aluminum radiators in newer vehicles. This is the stuff General Motors used until 1996, Chrysler used until 2001, and Ford used until 2002 in its trucks and 2003 in its passenger cars. “IAT” (Inorganic Acid Technology) is the traditional “green” formula antifreeze. This type of coolant contains fast-acting silicate and phosphate corrosion inhibitors that protect cast iron engines, bi-metal (cast iron/aluminum) engines, and copper/brass and aluminum radiators. The Standard Green Standard green formula antifreeze is the type that most North American vehicles used until the introduction of extended-life coolants back in the mid-1990s. Most long-life coolants, by comparison, are formulated to go five years or 150,000 miles. NOTE: Adding a conventional green antifreeze to a cooling system that contains an orange or yellow long-life coolant will reduce the life of the coolant to that of ordinary antifreeze (which for most vehicles is typically two to three years or 30,000 miles). Consequently, the idea of matching colors when choosing a coolant doesn’t always guarantee success. Long-life coolants are typically orange or yellow, but some may also be red, pink, blue, purple or even green. Most standard formula antifreeze is dyed green, but there are also some standard formula coolants that are yellow. Unfortunately, the colors they use are not necessarily standardized and do not always conform to the same chemical specifications.īecause of this, two different coolants may use the same color dye, or two similar coolants may use different colored dyes. To distinguish one type of coolant from another, vehicle manufacturers add colored dye to their coolants. But some corrosion inhibitors are not compatible with others, and if the chemistries differ too much it can reduce the coolant’s ability to prevent corrosion as the coolant ages. So you wouldn’t think it would make any difference which one a customer actually decided to use. The fact is, all types of antifreeze contain additives to protect the cooling system against corrosion. Some vehicle manufacturers prefer one type of corrosion inhibitors in their coolants, while other vehicle manufacturers may insist on a different type. Creating Confusion What makes choosing the right coolant so confusing today is that the automakers themselves can’t agree on what type of coolant chemistry is best for their vehicles. But that information isn’t always readily available. Of course, always refer to the repair manual before performing coolant service or even topping off your customers’ vehicles. But, how well will it protect the cooling system? And, for how long? And will it void the OEM warranty? These are important questions that need to be answered before choosing an antifreeze for a particular vehicle application. Though automakers disagree on which chemical additives work best in their vehicles, essentially any kind of antifreeze will work in any vehicle. Yet they can be easily prevented by using the “right” coolant and changing the coolant before trouble starts to heat up.Īll types of antifreeze contain corrosion-inhibiting chemicals to protect bare metal surfaces from electrolytic attack. These kinds of parts failures are all too common.
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