Choosing the Right Coolant/Antifreeze based on Colour

Coolant quality cannot be determined by its colour or freezing point alone. A good quality coolant should:

Whilst the use of Water and MEG/MPG has remained constrained through the years, the types of inhibitor packages used have grown as the vehicles, and their cooling systems have advanced, requiring different performance levels. This inhibitor package is only a small part of the coolant, but it has the strongest influence on the coolant quality. Only a few years ago, there were three main different types of inhibitor packages, whereas today, there 6 main packages used across the various coolants/antifreezes on the market with a wide variety of colours used to identify them.

• IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology (mineral)) – Silicates – Green or Blue
• OAT (Organic Acid Technology) – Organic Acids – Orange, Red or Yellow
• HOAT (Hybrid OAT, Phosphate-free) – NAP-free – Turquoise
• HOAT (Hybrid OAT) – Silicates and organic acids – Yellow
• Si-OAT (Silicated HOAT) – Silicates and organic acids – Purple or Pink
• P-HOAT (Phosphated HOAT) – Phosphates and organic acids – Blue or Pink

As you can see from this list there is some crossover in the colours used between various coolant kinds and this list is merely an illustration of the most popular colours; different manufacturers and markets may employ shades of all the colours in the rainbow. So, relying solely on colour when choosing your Coolant or Antifreeze is risky.  Since many coolants are incompatible with one another, selecting the incorrect coolant or mixing different coolant types can have expensive repercussions. Many will react in different harmful ways when mixed:

• Inhibitors equilibrium is strongly disturbed
• Protection against corrosion is no longer provided
• Risk of deposits in the system which reduce its effectiveness

In older cooling systems where a coolant with mineral inhibitor technology is required, adding a coolant with organic inhibitor technology could have expensive consequences as:

• Organic inhibitors have detergent properties which could scour the protective layer formed by mineral inhibitors.
• The metallic surfaces stripped bare can highlight micro cracks already there and leaks can appear.

For those unsure of the correct product type to use here are some points to keep in mind:

1. Refer to the vehicles manual to see which type of coolant/antifreeze should be used to ensure you stay within the vehicles warranty.
2. All too often people can be persuaded by price, especially cheaper universal products claiming to meet all vehicle requirements. This is no longer possible as specific manufacturers have specific requirements and formulations for their cooling systems. Hence the need for 6 different types on the market.
3. Check the colour and look for similar colours but remember colour should only be used as a guide, and you need to check the exact type of coolant on the label to ensure it matches what your manual indicates is the correct type.
4. If unsure, always consult a trusted stockist/supplier for the correct guidance on which type, you require and the best brand to look for.

We have been advising & supplying customers with Coolants & Antifreezes for over 40 years and ensure customers are using the right products. As a customer of Finol as well as talking to our technical support, you can use our easy-to-use WhichOil app www.whichoil.ie for guidance. If you are not yet a customer of Finol and would like to talk to one of our sales & technical team, you can arrange a free consultation by contacting 014555484 or auto@finol.ie.

We offer a full range of all the different types of coolants. From TotalEnergies Coolelf/Glacelf to our own CoolTemp Range, we will have a product for each of the different manufacturer requirements on the market and so will have the right product you need.