As is well known to all motorists, antifreeze is the liquid without which no water-cooled internal combustion engine can function normally. It is he who removes heat from the parts and assemblies that heat up during the operation of the motor, and at the same time prevents the appearance of corrosion and cracks on them.
Until relatively recently, only one of its varieties was used in Russia: well-known to all motorists (especially those who have a long driving experience) antifreeze, which has a blue color. It is also used now, but it is far from alone in the domestic market for engine coolants. Along with it, red and green colors of similar purpose are also offered, yellow and purple antifreezes are somewhat less common.
The choice is quite wide, and in this regard, vehicle owners have many questions related to the use of these coolants. One of the most relevant of them is the following: is it possible to mix antifreeze of different colors? Let's try to figure it out.
Regardless of color, any modern antifreeze is about 80% a mixture of monohydric alcohol (ethylene glycol or propylene glycol) and water. Such a composition is able to withstand temperatures up to +196 ° C without boiling, and as for the freezing threshold, it depends on the ratio of components and ranges from -11 ° C to -65 ° C. It should be noted that, according to the international classification, depending on which type of alcohol is used in antifreeze (ethylene glycol or propylene glycol), it is divided into three types:
The remaining 20% in any modern antifreeze is a variety of additives. They are necessary in order to protect metal and rubber parts with which this liquid comes into contact from corrosion and destruction under the influence of alcohol. The effect of additives varies depending on the type of antifreeze. In order for this difference to be visually determined, liquids of different types are painted in different colors.
What does the color of antifreeze mean?
As mentioned above, the most common colors that antifreeze is painted in are: blue, green, red. Each type of these coolants has its own features, advantages and disadvantages.
Blue
Antifreezes, which have the simplest chemical composition, are painted blue, and in many respects therefore they are inexpensive. It is this color that has a well-known and used in our country since Soviet times, antifreeze. The freezing point of blue antifreeze is -40 °C, and the boiling point is +115 °C. They use traditional chemical additives that form a thin protective film on the surface of the parts they come into contact with.
It should be noted that blue antifreezes are now considered obsolete. Their service life is no more than three years, in addition, the additives included in their composition are quite aggressive and adversely affect engine parts. Due to the low boiling point and tendency to foam in modern vehicles, blue antifreeze is not recommended.
Green
According to the international classification, green car antifreezes belong to the G11 category. They use both inorganic and organic additives (in particular, carboxylic acid). In terms of their effect on engine parts, green antifreezes are more “gentle” than blue ones. They also have the ability to form a film on the internal surfaces of the parts of the cooling system, which protects them, and also localizes the emerging areas of corrosion.
At the same time, this protective film has its drawbacks. First of all, it significantly reduces heat dissipation. In addition, after some time, it collapses, crumbles, and its particles clog the narrowest channels of the cooling system. It should also be noted that green antifreezes, just like blue ones, have a very limited service life, and they must be completely changed every three years.
Red
Automobile antifreezes of red color of the international classification belong to the category G12. They are characterized by the fact that additives of organic origin predominate in their composition, and a significant proportion of them is carboxylic acid. Due to this, red antifreezes do not form a film on the surfaces of the parts at all, and therefore heat is removed most efficiently.
At the same time, the additives contained in these coolants are excellent at limiting the spread of corrosion. As for the service life of red antifreeze, it is about five years. Antifreezes also have a rather significant drawback, which consists in the fact that they poorly protect aluminum parts from destruction, which are quite numerous in the cooling systems of modern cars.
Yellow and purple
In recent years, yellow and purple antifreezes have begun to appear on sale. They are not yet used very actively, and largely because manufacturers have not yet finally decided on their exact composition. In terms of their characteristics and properties, G13 antifreezes (they belong to this category according to the international classification) are close to red. Their main distinguishing feature is the use of not ethylene glycol, but propylene glycol, which is less chemically active and has better environmental characteristics.
Mixing antifreezes of different colors
As practice shows, in cars of a certain make and model, it is best to use the antifreeze that is recommended by the manufacturer. Automotive concerns, when testing their equipment, carefully test it for the use of various coolants, and, based on the results of these tests, determine the most optimal one.
However, in practice it often happens that the recommended antifreeze is simply not at hand, but there is another one. Therefore, the question arises as to the possibility of mixing coolants of different colors.
Since antifreezes of different colors contain different additives, it is very difficult to say exactly how they will react with each other when mixed. At the same time, the consequences of adding one type of coolant to another may well not appear immediately, but only after a while, and be very negative. This can manifest itself in precipitation, increased foaming, etc.
Thus, mixing antifreezes of different colors is strongly discouraged. This should only be done when absolutely necessary. At the same time, the service life of such a mixture should be as short as possible. At the first opportunity, it is necessary to drain it, thoroughly flush the engine cooling systems, and only after that fill it with the antifreeze recommended by the manufacturer.
Related video
What is antifreeze every experienced motorist knows. Beginners who are new to everything can be answered that antifreeze is a special engine coolant that can not only cool the engine, but also not freeze even at very low temperatures. Plus, all antifreezes are divided among themselves into several colors, where each color determines its own “personal” chemical composition. For example, the base of red antifreeze is acids, blue and green are silicates, or in other words, salts.
Hence the question arises - these fluids do the same job, but is it possible to mix different antifreezes that differ in color and, therefore, in chemical composition?
Why was such a property of antifreeze noted at the beginning of the article as resistance to freezing? The thing is that in the recent past, ordinary water was used to cool the engine, but, as you know, water had a number of significant drawbacks when used specifically for cooling. First, it had the ability to boil at high temperatures. Secondly, it froze at sub-zero temperatures. And thirdly, it served as the cause of corrosion, or in a simple way, rust. Antifreeze does not freeze, does not boil, and corrosion does not appear from it.
Each individual antifreeze has a single base - it is ethylene glycol (propylene glycol), and a certain composition of additives. The main difference between antifreezes is not even its color, but the characteristics determined by the color. That is, one antifreeze has anti-corrosion protection, the other has lubricating properties, the third is distinguishable by freezing and boiling points, and also has a difference in properties and degree of aggressiveness to car parts. But not only the color determines the content.
The conviction of all drivers who believe that different antifreezes, but of the same manufacturer, can be mixed is a pure delusion. But this is not all. When adding red antifreeze from one company to the same red, but from a different manufacturer, one cannot be 100% sure that they are similar both in terms of characteristics and composition. Because in one line, the antifreeze manufacturer still adheres to the same composition, which cannot be said about the coolant made by another company, even if it is of the same color. At the same time, it may have completely different properties than the one that is filled in the tank.
All the troubles from such a “topping up” may appear far from immediately, but after some time, and having already significantly introduced their destructive properties into the system. Although by itself, if filled in correctly, antifreeze does not pose any threat to car parts.
Color is nothing, additive is everything
But the color itself does not matter as much as the additives that are in one or another composition of antifreeze. Each manufacturer uses its own additives, so the set of additives can vary significantly both in the amount of substances used in the manufacture and in the general composition itself. So, for example, inorganic compounds are used in one coolant, and chemical compounds of a new generation are used in the other. Therefore, mixing antifreezes of different nature and composition can significantly worsen all the positive properties of the mixture. All this adversely affects all the details of the motor, which can subsequently completely disable it.
To mix or not to mix, that is the question
At the end of the article, you need to make a small digression, which cannot be considered a rule in any way, but it is worth knowing about it.
The age of new technologies and innovative solutions brings us qualitatively new products every day. So the new generation coolant, made using the latest technologies, has completely new properties, one of which is the possible compatibility with other antifreezes. Moreover, this information, for the most part, is displayed on the product label. But still, even taking into account this information, and using only high-quality latest developments in the field of various lubricants and coolants in your car, you should not take risks and use antifreeze with completely different properties for topping up. Even if it's the same color.
What is the best thing to do in a situation of painful choice - which antifreeze to add and whether they can be mixed in principle. The easiest thing to do to get started is to simply look at the manual that comes with each car and carefully read the manufacturer's recommendations. If the manual is lost, or the car is used, and what the previous owner poured into it remains a mystery, then there is only one solution and the most correct one. This is a complete change of coolant in the system. In addition, the quality and working life of antifreeze can be determined by its color. If he has radically changed his original color, then here you should not even think about it - just change it.
Video
The following video details antifreeze and how to use it:
Some are wondering: “I heard the opinion that blue can be mixed with green, but not with red.” In fact, depending on which green antifreeze to interfere with, and with which blue.
Mix antifreeze red and green.
And on the other hand, or the G30 package, they perfectly interfere with the blue-green G11 Vagovsky, which is the main representative of the G48 package, we just get a dark brown color at the output.
Specification G12+
It is the G12 + specification that allows you to mix with silicate-containing antifreezes, without precipitation. G12 coolant without “+”, which also most often has a red color, does not mix with blue-green. Therefore, in any case, the color of antifreeze does not affect its properties, but the specification is required.
Antifreezes on organic
In fact, the liquid can be orange and red, and sometimes it is not miscible with the yellow inorganic. First of all, protection against corrosion and cavitation is assigned to carboxylic acids. Accordingly, all our protection is organic. The liquid contains neither silicates nor phosphates.
See more description
The main advantages of antifreeze on organic.
It does not create such an anti-corrosion package, does not create a continuous film on the surfaces of contact antifreeze and metal, that is, on the surfaces of an internal radiator in an engine cooling jacket, additives work only where there are micro foci of corrosion. They work only as needed, only where there is a problem. Accordingly, these antifreezes serve for a long time.
modern hybrid. Japanese antifreeze.
If we take modern hybrid ones, then 2 schools have appeared here. These are the so-called hybrids of the latest generation, which appeared later than organic ones. This is where a full-fledged organic antifreeze is, where additional protection is provided by additives of inorganic compounds, such as modified silicates, or the latest Japanese antifreezes. It can be a complex phosphate-containing organic, and a combined package is obtained. What are the advantages? Organic antifreezes work best on aluminum, and their protection for ferrous metals is weaker. They work amazingly on any surface. Since they combine both options for protecting inorganic, organic at once. But unlike the first generation, they do not create a thick film. The film is created where the micro corrosion center is neutralized by organic matter, organic additives.
In this case, still inorganic antifreeze from above creates the thinnest film that covers these areas of micro corrosion centers. As a result, organic matter is also consumed less. In Europe, the most popular antifreeze based on the G40 package. According to the VAGA marking at 12 2+a, it has the colors: bright yellow, bright green and bright purple, and bright green is precisely the light antifreeze for Mazda.
Is it possible to mix green antifreeze with blue
If we take bright green European antifreeze, then it has a completely different chemistry. Therefore, when they say: “I’ll mix blue with green, and I won’t have any problems, I want to ask a question: And green, which one shall we take?” at a minimum, we will lose most of the normal operation of the anti-corrosion package.Some antifreezes, when mixed in this way by color, can form a soluble residue.
In this case, the problem with the water pump seals, the problem with the clogging of the radiators, as they say, is guaranteed. Some are wondering: Returning to the first question: “I heard the opinion that blue can be mixed with green, but not with red.” In fact, you yourself see that depending on which green and which blue.
There is a misconception among car owners that the quality of antifreeze directly depends on its shade. The most commonly provided "classification" is:
The best is red antifreeze, the shelf life of which is 5 years;
Medium in quality - green antifreeze, its service life is 3 years;
The most “simple” is blue antifreeze, which includes Tosol, its service life is one to two years.
There is also an opinion that all refrigerants of the same color are completely identical, respectively, they can be mixed with each other. In order to increase the range, antifreezes of different shades are produced: green, blue, yellow, red, despite the fact that they are completely identical in composition.
In reality, all antifreezes and antifreezes have no color. The amount of dye added is minimal - only a few grams per ton of antifreeze. Color in no way affects the properties of antifreeze.
What happens if you mix antifreezes of different shades from different manufacturers?
When mixing antifreezes of different shades, nothing terrible will happen - unless, of course, they are produced in full compliance with established standards. As a rule, car owners face such a situation when the antifreeze in cars is over, and there is nowhere or impossible to get the same one.
For example, green G11 antifreeze can be mixed with a similar green G11 antifreeze, but of a different brand.
The most important thing is that the standards by which liquids are produced are the same.
Accordingly, G12 can also be mixed with G12 from another manufacturer.
It should be noted right away that antifreeze produced in our country is a regular G11 antifreeze, which can be safely mixed with blue and green antifreeze from another manufacturer.
Is it possible to mix G11 antifreezes of different colors
Mixing antifreeze of different shades and different categories of G11 and G12 does not do any particular harm. However, there are subgroups G11 and G12, and a third variant of liquids is G13.
If we take only the first subgroup, then mixing such antifreezes will cause the additives to acquire both anti-corrosion and protective properties. Of course, not a single car owner will be able to control the entire process of mixing liquids from and to.
Most likely, the compounds will not react and the precipitate will not fall out, however, it is advisable to remember that the addition of various additives that are not designed for a particular car and its “insides” can adversely affect the cooling system.
The reason for this lies in the green antifreeze, which forms a film on the tubes of the system that does not allow the engine and other machine components to cool properly. Simply put, if blue or green is added to red antifreeze, then the temperature regime decreases due to a change in the characteristics of the liquids.
It should be noted separately that when adding a small volume - up to one and a half liters - there may not be a similar effect.
Is it possible to mix green, yellow and red antifreeze
Blue, green and red antifreeze are mostly ethylene glycol and distilled water. In yellow and purple, on the contrary, the bulk of the composition falls on distilled water and propylene glycol.
Accordingly, in liquids there are completely different bases - monohydric alcohols, one of which - ethylene glycol - is toxic, while propylene glycol is safe. For this reason, propylene glycol began to be added to antifreeze to eliminate the toxicity of the composition.
In addition, G13 antifreeze includes two types of additives - protective and anti-corrosion.
When mixing red or green antifreeze with yellow, the following happens:
It is not known what kind of reaction propylene glycol and ethylene glycol will enter into;
The additives that are part of the yellow or purple antifreeze are designed only for interaction with propylene glycol, respectively, how they will behave with ethylene glycol is unknown;
In addition, the question arises of the compatibility of additives with each other.
For this reason, mixing G11 and G12 refrigerants with each other and with G13 is not worth it - there is a high probability that a precipitate may form, which can lead to malfunctions in the car.
If your vehicle's systems run out of coolant and need to be topped up, it's best to use distilled water.
In the summer, antifreeze can be completely replaced with distilled water, but with the onset of cold weather, it is changed to a special coolant. Water at temperatures below zero will simply freeze, which will lead to malfunctions of all components and assemblies of the car.
Mixing antifreezes of different shades - green, red, blue, purple and yellow - is only possible if they have a completely identical composition and additive package.
If these nuances are observed, then no harm will be done to the cooling system. In other cases, mixing antifreeze is unacceptable.
Good day to all! A rather relevant and interesting topic has ripened, which I propose to discuss in the comments. And we will talk about whether it is possible to mix antifreeze.
Moreover, a large number of questions on this topic are asked by Internet users. I will try to answer the main ones. This will allow you to finally understand the issue of the correct selection and combination of coolants for your car.
Choosing for the motor, or buying and all sorts of other fluids, the driver should always think about how their use will be combined with the car. After all, if the composition does not meet the requirements of the automaker, this can potentially lead to serious and undesirable consequences.
The same goes for antifreeze. Many people think that when mixing different compositions, you can harm the car and the whole . Like it or not, and what you need to know about mixing the coolant, we will find out.
Liquid cooling system
Liquid or water engine cooling systems are incredibly popular and common among automakers. Initially, ordinary water was used for such purposes. The advantage was that it was easy to get even in extreme situations.
At the same time, water as a coolant (coolant) has its drawbacks:
- corrosion begins quickly;
- when using dirty water, it is necessary to flush the system;
- low temperature threshold of freezing;
- rapid boiling;
- active evaporation;
- frequent engine failure;
- the need for constant monitoring of the cooling system;
- a large amount of sediment when using untreated water, etc.
Manufacturers realized that you can’t go far on the water. First, glycerin and alcohol were added to the water. The composition has improved and modernized. As a result, we received special coolants, which are called antifreeze. In the post-Soviet space, the concept of antifreeze is also actively used.
Let's take a look at the classification so that you can further understand whether motorists can mix trains in certain situations. Namely:
- different brands;
- different manufacturers;
- different colors etc.
Some are sure that in no case should you mix antifreeze and antifreeze. Others believe that even if you mix red with green, red with blue, or yellow with any other coolant colors, absolutely nothing terrible will happen. Here we will find out who is right.
A bit of classification
Currently, for automobile engines, and more precisely for their cooling systems, 6 compounds are used:
- antifreeze;
- G11;
- G12;
- G12+;
- G12++;
- G13.
They can be of different companies, of the same color, of various shapes, types, etc. That is, color is not a fundamental criterion here. Therefore, one type of composition can be blue and green, yellow and red, etc.
Let's talk about each composition separately.
- Tosol. An old type of antifreeze developed during Soviet times specifically for Soviet cars as a response to imported antifreeze. It consists of a conventional aqueous solution using complex alcohols. This includes ethylene glycol and special protective additives;
- G11. Traditional coolant based on ethylene glycol, water and additives. As additives, silicates, phosphates, as well as borates, nitrites, etc. are used. They do not differ in long-term service. Main color blue;
- G12. Carboxylate automotive antifreezes, where, in addition to components from G11, carboxylates are added. These are compounds of a fairly effective carboxylic acid. The coolant serves for a long time, the composition is mainly painted red or pink;
- G12+. Hybrid fluid based on water, as well as ethylene glycol, carboxylate, silicate, nitrite and phosphate additives. The composition of the coolant may vary, depending on the manufacturer and its geographical location. Mostly red;
- G12++. So-called hybrid fluids. An organic base and silicates are used. In many ways similar to G12 + antifreeze, but has a longer service life;
- G13. A new type of coolant, where they abandoned ethylene glycol, and replaced it with propylene glycol. Such a component is harmless, which is why it quickly gained popularity. It is most often pink and purple.
But you must understand that any of the antifreezes presented can be painted in completely different colors. It has nothing to do with composition. Color is purely decorative.
Initially, manufacturers wanted to stand out by changing the color of the standard white liquid. But gradually everyone began to use different coloring options. For this, dyes are used.
Mixing issue
If you think that it is perfectly safe to mix red with red, but blue and green car antifreeze should never be combined with each other, do not rush to conclusions.
First of all, I advise you to read the material on choosing the best non-freeze. Here to this article. All cars are recommended to choose only the highest quality compositions. And it’s not so important whether we are talking about antifreezes, or it’s , flushing agent or some for rust. We put quality first. And it will be better if you constantly start using the same antifreeze.
It is better to mix compositions in winter and summer in emergency situations, when there is simply no way to find the original coolant. If you buy a concentrate, then you simply have to mix it with water. But not from the tap, but with a special, purified and distilled.
As you understand, coolants differ in composition and additives used. And many of them can coexist in the same liquid without causing sediment and without gelling the antifreeze.
If you mix coolants that differ in manufacturer and color, no disaster will definitely happen. But without urgent need to experiment is not worth it. In the worst case, the resulting mix will not last as long as you originally expected.
Motorists are interested in the possibility of mixing:
- compositions of the same color;
- mixtures from different companies;
- G11 and G12;
- G12 and G12+;
- G12 and G13;
- Coolant from different companies (for example, Sintek and Felix)
- antifreeze and antifreeze;
- G11 and G12++;
- G12++ and G13;
- red and blue;
- blue and green;
- pink and purple.
The list is endless as there are so many potential combinations.
But you should rely on generally accepted rules. They will be the basis for making a decision regarding the mixing of different coolants in emergency situations.
These rules read as follows:
- do not mix coolants that belong to classes 11 and 12;
- it is allowed to combine G11 with G12 + and even with G13;
- if necessary, you can combine 12 and 12+;
- in the case of a combination of 12 with 12++ or 13, it is better to refuse such a mixture;
- it is not forbidden to combine 12, 12++ and 13 in parallel.
Agree that it is rather difficult to keep such formulas in mind. But sometimes it is better to have the appropriate knowledge in order to avoid mistakes.
Drawing conclusions
Practice clearly proves that drivers can mix coolant from different brands and manufacturers in the tank with their same class and chemical composition. In such situations, a deposit dangerous for the cooling system of an automobile engine is unlikely to form.
