What is radiator coolant made of

There are two level indicators on the side of the tank: one indicates the safe level when the engine is hot; the other, when it is cold. If your coolant level is slightly low, it's safe to add a few ounces of plain water to bring the level back up to the appropriate mark. Some vehicles' recovery tanks are pressurized when the engine is hot, making the caps as dangerous to remove as radiator caps.

Pressurized recovery tanks are clearly marked with warning decals and their cap is a system pressure cap, rather than a simple plug or twist-off cap. In addition to checking for an adequate amount of fluid, you should examine the condition of the fluid. Coolant that's still working is a pale greenish-yellow color, like clear, slightly thick lemonade.

Long-life coolants are orange, like pale orangeade. Some vehicle manufacturers employ a beige-colored fluid. No matter what the color, the key is that it's not brownish or dirty looking and that flecks of rust aren't floating around in it. If the coolant is in bad condition, it's time to have the system flushed.

Contact [email protected] to share your thoughts! Share on Facebook. Share on Twitter. Share on Reddit. Share on Email. Antifreeze Antifreeze is another name for ethylene glycol. Dye Have you noticed that coolant comes in many different colors? Posted in Underhood.

Different ingredients are used to solve different issues. For example, cars made in Asia have had issues with poor heat transfer. As a result, engine coolant for cars manufactured in Asia does not use coolants with silicates.

Instead, phosphates and carboxylates fill the anti-corrosive role. In Europe, engine coolant had to solve a different problem. Hard water, containing the minerals calcium and magnesium, had a reaction with phosphate inhibitors in engine coolant, causing scale to form on car engines.

So, engine coolant for cars made in Europe does not contain phosphates. Instead, coolant designed for European cars uses silicates and carboxylates. While antifreeze is a common ingredient in engine coolant, it is not always present.

You can use coolant additives without antifreeze to improve heat transfer efficiency within your engine. Some additives can be an effective option in straight water applications. Plus, an additive like Hy-per Cool Super Coolant is compatible with nearly any type of antifreeze you are already using for your vehicle. Different types of engine coolants are specifically engineered for different types of vehicles.

Coolant varieties are categorized by name and color. You should always use the variety recommended for your car. Six types of engine coolant are:. IAT engine coolant is green. It is made with ethylene glycol with silicate and phosphates added to prevent corrosion. As an older formula, it is not as efficient as some newer types of engine coolant. If your car requires IAT coolant, you will need to flush it and replace it approximately every two years or every 24, miles.

OAT engine coolant is made with a propylene glycol base. Organic acid technology OAT engine coolant is usually orange in color, but it can come in other colors like dark green.

Always double-check the label to ensure you do not accidentally grab a color that is a different coolant type. OAT uses organic acid to help protect your engine from corrosion.

As a more modern formulation, OAT coolant only needs to be drained and changed every five years or every 50, miles. Hybrid organic acid technology is one of the three main categories of engine coolant, and it has several subcategories. HOAT coolant was traditionally yellow. You can find HOAT coolant in yellow, orange, green, pink and blue. HOAT uses both silicates and organic acid to protect your engine and combat corrosion.

It should be swapped out at the same interval as OAT coolant: every five years of every 50, miles. Phosphate-free HOAT is usually turquoise in color. This NAP-free formula, made with ethylene glycol, contains organic and inorganic corrosion inhibitors to protect your engine. It does not contain phosphates, such as nitrite, nitrate and borate. It is also a low-silicate formula.

The coolant is usually either pink or blue. Due to heat transfer issues, Asian car manufacturers require the use of this type of coolant. Silicated HOAT is usually recognizable by its vibrant purple color.

The most important thing to remember, when using a coolant, is to follow manufacturer recommendations. Too much is just as bad as too little since it compromises the ability of the mixture to move through the system and hence hinders its cooling capacity. Finally, although it is possible to use just water if you run out of coolant in the middle of nowhere, get your vehicle the coolant it needs as soon as you get to a gas station to prevent irremediable damage to the engine.

Is it Coolant or Anti-Freeze or What? What is the Difference Between Coolant and Antifreeze? The Different Colors of Coolant. Types of Antifreeze. What is antifreeze? What does antifreeze do? Where water fails, antifreeze works:. Dual protection with antifreeze:. So much more than just temperature control:. The difference between antifreeze and coolant. The different types of antifreeze. But, that is not the main difference. This led to red, green, blue, yellow and orange fluids.

Why is antifreeze different colors? Basically, coolants come in 3 types:. Inorganic acid formula IAT :. Organic acid technology OAT :. Hybrid organic acid technology HOAT :. Can you mix antifreeze colors? Where do you put antifreeze? How often should you change your antifreeze? These include: The coolant light coming on: This indicator points to low coolant levels as well as the engine running too hot.

How often should you check your antifreeze levels?