I was wondering what people have used in their coolant systems as anti-freeze. I have read a few post but been lead in a few different directions. Could the forum please post what they have been using and for how long? Thanks!

 

Christo, I am using Prestone (green stuff). I get the concentrated stuff and then mix in my own distilled water. I have been running this for about 5K miles and no issues. I like to mix my own because I tend to run a 60/40 mix or so. This will allow me to add only water when in a pinch and can only get water. Also, it helps when you live in a cold climate as the freezing point of the higher concentration is a bit lower.

 

i just use the cheapest 50/50 mix and change it once a year...when i change it theres not one sign of corrosion..

 

First hit on google, when you type "antifreeze colour" is below. Summary is that colour is meaningless......

April 2005
Page 1 of 2
Technical Service Bulletin 05-2
The Color of Antifreeze
Until recently, the color of the most commonly used antifreezes for both light duty
and heavy-duty engine cooling systems was predominately green. Its change
interval is normally about every two years or 30,000 miles (50,000 km) of use.
Then, long life (LLC) / extended life (ELC) coolant / antifreeze was introduced in
an effort to reduce maintenance costs, downtime and environmental disposal
costs and issues. With the introduction of this totally new concept, antifreeze
manufacturers wanted to differentiate this new product from existing antifreezes.
To accomplish this, they introduced different colored dyes for their LLC / ELC
products. Orange and red dyes were used first; now it appears there may be
virtually no limit to the different dye colors that may be used.
The purpose of this bulletin is to describe the dye colors currently available, the
chemical technologies being used and which vehicle manufacturers are using
which technology based on the information that is readily available at the time
this bulletin was published. The member companies of the FMC are confident
this issue is not static and new technologies and dye colors will continue to be
introduced in the future.
Antifreeze is used in cooling systems to both lower the freeze point of water and
raise its boiling point. It is also used as a carrier for different types of additives
such as sodium silicate to protect aluminum from corrosion, anti-foaming agents
and other corrosion inhibitors. Although straight antifreeze actually freezes and
boils quicker than tap water, when mixed with water in the proper proportions (a
50% / 50% mix is ideal) in a cooling system, it greatly increases the cooling
system's ability to perform its designed function of removing heat from critical
engine parts and to enhance the service life of the various cooling system
components.
Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT) is the chemical composition for the traditional
antifreezes that are green in color. An IAT can be used with either ethylene glycol
(EG) or propylene glycol (PG). The normal IAT service life is two years or 30,000
miles (50,000 km).
Organic Acid Technology (OAT) was the first LLC / ELC introduced in North
America in 1994. OAT antifreeze had been widely used in Europe before its
introduction in North America. OAT can be either EG or PG but is mostly EG
based. Its first dye colors were orange and red. These dye colors are still used by
General Motors and Caterpillar. Green, pink and blue have been added to the list
April 2005
Page 2 of 2
of available OAT antifreezes. It is recommended that OAT not be mixed with any
other antifreeze technology. The normal OAT antifreeze service life is 5 years or
150,000 miles (250,000 km).
Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) is a combination of IAT and OAT with
nitrites added. This makes HOAT suitable for use in both light duty and heavy
duty systems. Currently, two manufacturers are using HOAT for their vehicles.
Daimler/Chrysler's version is dyed orange and contains 10% recycled antifreeze.
Ford Motor Company’s version is dyed yellow and does not contain any recycled
antifreeze. Both of these HOAT antifreezes use the marketing designator of GO-
5. They are compatible with each other but mixing them with IAT or OAT is not
recommended. The normal HOAT antifreeze service life is 5 years or 150,000
miles (250,000 km).
Nitrated Organic Acid Technology (NOAT) is an OAT with nitrates added. This
makes NOAT also suitable for use in both light duty and heavy duty systems.
NOAT and HOAT are very similar in performance characteristics. Currently, no
OEM vehicle manufacturer is using NOAT. The normal NOAT service life is 5
years or 150,000 miles (250,000 km).
Since antifreeze is clear when it is manufactured, and water is clear, dye is used
to color the antifreeze for identification and marketing purposes. The color of
antifreeze is no longer an accurate indicator as to whether it is an IAT, OAT,
HOAT or NOAT formulation. Further, some antifreeze manufacturers market a
“universal” antifreeze they say is compatible with all OAT, HOAT and NOAT
formulations. These "universal" formulas are not for use with IAT and they will not
convert an IAT to an LLC/ELC antifreeze. Mixing IAT with OAT, HOAT or NOAT
antifreezes will not damage your vehicle’s cooling system; however the mixture
will negate the long life/extended life attributes of these formulations.
In conclusion, there are currently two oranges, two reds, green, dark green,
yellow, blue, blue-green, clear and pink dye colors available. With this variety of
dye colors and more to come, the service technician’s ability to properly service
and maintain light duty and heavy duty cooling systems properly will be greatly
challenged. It is imperative the technician be fully aware of what the vehicle
manufacturers' requirements for antifreeze are and those recommendations be
carefully followed. For further information regarding cooling system maintenance,
refer to TSB's 88-1R3, 89-1R2, 97-2 and 02-1.
For additional information, contact:
Filter Manufacturers Council
P.O. Box 13966
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3966
Phone: 919/406-8817 Fax: 919/406-1306
www.filtercouncil.org
Administered by Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association

 

Take a look at this that I just read.... 60% is not all good....

The freezing point of an anti-freeze/coolant solution depends on the concentration of the solution, and rises when the ratio of antifreeze to water exceeds 60%.

With winter approaching, most of us have begun to think about checking our antifreeze. If we're "good" down to, say, 20 below, it's probably wise to put in some more. How much? Well, on the back of most antifreeze cans or jugs, there is usually a table explaining the freezing points of different concentrations of antifreeze and water. Almost all of these tables show values down to about 60 below with a half-and-half mixture, but go no further. That's a pity, because it is at that point that strange things begin to happen.
It's not funny to the poor guy who wants to make really sure this winter, and with a "what the heck" attitude, fills the cooling system with pure antifreeze. He will be the one walking back into the house some frosty morning when its 10 below, shaking his head because his car radiator is frozen solid.
Thom Wigle of Dow Chemical in Ontario informs me that his office receives several hundred complaints each winter from irate customers complaining that their antifreeze is "no damned good." A typical story is that the customer was using a Dow product undiluted and their engine froze up at around zero.
Actually, this is to be expected when one considers that ethylene glycol, the principal component of most antifreezes, freezes at 8 degrees above zero, Fahrenheit. It is only when water is added that the freezing point is depressed. The freezing point of an ethylene glycol and water mixture drops rapidly as the concentration of glycol is increased to a mixture of about 60% antifreeze and 40% water. Around that point, an abrupt turnabout occurs, and as more antifreeze is added, the freezing point rises almost as fast as it had previously dropped.
It's clearly a case of what you don't know can hurt you, but I have never seen an antifreeze container with an explanatory note to this effect.
Glycols do not have sharp freezing points, and even below the freezing temperatures, a slushy solution exists which will still flow. In the never-never transition zone around -60°F and 60% glycol, the mixture can either crystallize like water (particularly when "seeded" by a crystal and agitated) or set to a glass-like solid with no orderly internal crystalline structure. Either way, the result is the same, and thawing measures including strong language are prescribed.

 

I use Dex-Cool antifreeze and it has worked great so far. I picked it up at Kragen.

 

PLus! you should also use distilled water when you mix your own

 

I live in southern CA where temps soar to 115-120 in the summer. Temps never go to freezing here. Can someone suggest the best anti-freeze/mix for my situation?

Thank you!

SirJag

 

Here is some reading you can do:

http://www.challengers101.com/CoolantMix.html

Red Line also makes a product called "Water Wetter" that you can run with just (Distilled) water:


http://www.redlineoil.com/Products.aspx?pcid=10

 

Jaguar says to use WSS-M97B44-D, which is an orange OAT type. But make sure that it is WSS-M97B44-D, not ESE-M97B44-A, which is the old green kind. But the previous owner could have changed it to something else, so if what is in there is not orange, or you just want to be safe, you should flush it all out before adding anything.

Motorcraft® Specialty Orange Engine Coolant and Prestone® DEX-COOL® Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant meet the WSS-M97B44-D specification, and should be fine in your X-Type, PROVIDED that it does not have something else in it.

 

+1 dexcool

 

That is not true.

because ...

The tables "almost" always specify the freezing and boilover protection to a concentration of 70 percent undiluted antifreeze to 30 percent water. The "almost" above is only used in the event someone finds some obscure brand that says otherwise. But, in truth, it should be just plain always.

70/30 is the preferred concentration because it offers the best boilover and freezing protection performance. Take a look at the back label on the major branded jugs next time you visit a auto supply store.

BTW, the concentration numbers hold true for traditional, OAT, HOAT and NITRATE type antifreezes in the formulations available to the general public.

 

I am running pink Dex Cool antifreeze. I bought my car used from a someone who only had it dealer serviced including oil changes and this is what was in it when I bought it. I have spoke to several mechanics and enthusiasts who swear that it's great in these vehicles.