Conventional coolants are inexpensive and have an average service life of about 50,000 miles. They are commonly used in automotive, heavy duty, and industrial and recreational applications requiring low silicate and non-extended life conditions.Also known as an IAT (inorganic additive technology), these coolants contain are glycol bases and have silicates as part of its inhibitor package. The following are the major types:Ĭonventional coolants are used in applications with low silicate requirements, also known as green antifreeze. The color of the coolant is simply the result of a dye added to aid in identification and has no effect on its quality or performance.Īs mentioned above, there are several coolant technologies in the market today and they differ from one another based on several factors such as service application, service life and maintenance requirements. Coolants can be classified into several different types based on the type of the additive as well as the exact compound that makes the additive.Ĭoolants come in different colors, while the color of the coolant - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, etc., may denote a particular coolant type, there is no industry standard that the manufacturers are required to follow when marketing their products. Mixing the two glycols in the water together can result in erroneous freeze point readings on a refractometer or hydrometer, so calibration is necessary before measurement.Ī chemical inhibitor or an additive package is added to coolants to help prevent corrosion in the radiator, water pump and other internal cooling system components.
One of the key benefits of propylene glycol is non-toxic. Ethylene glycol is perhaps the most common because of good antifreeze properties and availability. Glycol (ethylene or propylene glycol) is added to water to withstand freezing temperatures and to raise the boiling point so that the engine stays cool during operation.
Since vehicles in many parts of the world experience ambient temperatures well below ‘freezing’ during winter, and engine operating temperatures can reach well above water’s boiling point while in use, heat exchange and freeze protection are critical. Water is the most inexpensive and effective heat exchange medium, though it has a relatively narrow temperature range from its freezing point to boiling point. The liquid circulating around the engine absorbs heat created by combustion, then carries it away from the engine where it cools and releases the heat to the environment as it passes through a radiator.Īutomotive coolants are generally made of three main components- water, glycol and an additive or chemical inhibitor package. Vehicle coolants are probably the most commonly known or familiar ones in the spectrum of coolants spanning both industrial and scientific areas.Ĭars and trucks with internal combustion engines burning gasoline, diesel and natural gas fuels use coolants.
While a coolant, in general, can be a liquid, or another substance depending upon the application, but our focus is on the engines of the automotive industry. This article attempts to answer most of these and some other questions by breaking things down into bite-size chunks that are easy to understand.
#Mixing pink and green coolant series#
With this complexity comes a series of questions ranging from “what’s the difference between a red coolant and a green coolant?” or “what will happen if I mix the two?” to “is ethylene glycol the same as propylene glycol?” Coolants serve relatively simple but important purposes in automotive and industrial applications - corrosion prevention, freeze and boil protection if required.īut in a market of ever-increasing technologies, OEM requirements, and even colors, coolants can seem very complex, maybe even downright vexing. A coolant or an antifreeze as it is commonly referred to, is a liquid that helps regulate the vehicle engine temperatures during operation.
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