You can mix antifreeze of different brands. Is it possible to mix antifreezes

(CO) helps prevent overheating of the power unit in the machine. Therefore, you need to monitor the amount of substance in the tank. When adding it, it must be borne in mind that if antifreezes are mixed without taking into account their composition and class, then this can lead to problems in the operation of the cooling system. Accordingly, to overheating of the internal combustion engine. Read more about how to properly mix refrigerants below.

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What are the types of antifreeze

To understand what is fraught with mixing antifreezes of different colors and how to mix correctly, let's look at the main points.

Coolants are divided into two groups:

• with a salt base, usually have a green and blue color;
• with an acid base, as a rule, have a red tint.

Refrigerant colors may vary as determined by the manufacturer. But manufacturers usually assign just such shades to their products so that buyers have no difficulty in purchasing them. Color does not affect the composition and characteristics, since it is only a dye.

What types of liquids can be found on sale:

1. TL. Traditional class of antifreeze, dyed blue. In composition, this type of substance is more similar to Tosol than others.
2. G11. Products covered by this standard are colored green and blue, as well as blue-green. Silicate elements are added to the composition of such mineral antifreezes. Some manufacturers assign orange and yellow colors to liquids of this type. Once in the cooling system, the substance forms a protective film on all its internal components. The disadvantages of such products include a low resource of use, averaging no more than two years. During operation, the protective layer that appears inside the system begins to crumble and spread through it when the liquid circulates. Its residues become abrasive and disrupt the work of CO, leading to problems in heat transfer.
3. G12, G12+ and G12++. Such refrigerants have a red color or another shade of it - lilac, pink, violet, etc. Organic liquids of this standard refer to carboxylate products. The main advantage lies in the local action. In the presence of rust in the cooling system, they do not allow corrosion to spread its focus to other elements. This is achieved by adding special additives to the composition. The service life is on average about five years, but if the consumer dilutes the concentrate and adds distilled water to it, then the service life of the refrigerant is reduced to three years. The main disadvantage is that the product does not prevent the formation of corrosion, but only prevents the already existing focus from spreading. And antifreezes related to the G12 + and G12 ++ standards allow you to remove rust. The refrigerant, even at the end of its service life, will not become abrasive, since it does not create a protective film in the system.
4. G13. May have a pink, lilac or yellow tint. This product belongs to hybrid and, in fact, it is a more advanced version of G12 ++. The main difference is that the refrigerant is not based on ethylene glycol, but on the safer propylene glycol. This led to an increase in the cost of the liquid, which is why it is not so popular among consumers today. Manufacturers do not have a single standard for antifreeze colors; each company can assign any shade to its product.

What is common and different in the compositions?

The composition of fluids, especially those of classes G11 and G12, is very similar. Approximately 80% they are the same. As a rule, manufacturers use distillate and ethylene glycol in the basis of products of different brands. The remaining 20% ​​are additives that perform important functions.

You can learn more about the classification of antifreezes from the video filmed by the Unol Tv channel.

Regarding additives, each manufacturer uses different sets, making their product unique and with the characteristics it needs. Additives are used to remove the destructive effect, which is achieved by mixing distillate and ethylene glycol. The combination of water and this element is chemically active and can lead to the destruction of the metal components of the cooling system. Especially the walls of the radiator device and pipes. The use of additives reduces the likelihood of damage.

There are several options for additives:

1. Protective. They are designed to cover the lines of the cooling system. Additives create a special film on the internal surfaces that prevents the destruction of metal components. Such additives are usually used in products of the G11 standard, as well as domestic Tosols.
2. Anti-corrosion. They do not create an additional film, but actively remove rust when it appears. Thanks to these additives, the focus is blocked, since the chemical elements that make up the composition seal it.
3. Hybrid. Combine the advantages of the two types of additives described above. Manufacturers of liquids usually mix them in the required proportion.
4. Additional additives. There may be many. For example, anti-foam, designed to prevent the formation of foam in the cooling system.

Mixing different colors and brands

It is possible to mix red and blue refrigerant, green and yellow, as well as other colors of the same or different manufacturers in the heating system, if both liquids have the same characteristics. Each antifreeze before adding the dye to the composition is colorless. The main difference in the products is not the shade, but the quality itself. One coolant may be designed to protect the cooling system from rust, another for lubrication properties, and the third has a certain temperature range.

All refrigerants can have different freezing and boiling point thresholds, as well as be aggressive to metal and rubber elements to varying degrees.

If two liquids are mixed that do not correspond to each other in composition, this is fraught with the following consequences:

1. Deposits will begin to appear in the cooling system, which will lead to the formation of a mixture. Because of this, antifreeze will lose its characteristics, which helps to reduce the resource of use. As a result of the conflict of different additives, the chemical components refuse to work with each other. The liquid becomes thick and forms a mixture that is not able to circulate normally through the cooling system. Because of what, its lines become clogged and the CO becomes inoperable as a whole, and, as a result, the motor overheats. This problem can be solved by flushing. In case of untimely cleaning, it will be necessary to replace the nozzles.
2. It will be worse if the chemical molecules present in the composition of the liquid begin to work against each other. As a result, you will not only have to change the refrigerant, but also, sometimes its elements may fail.
3. Foaming will occur. This problem is faced by many consumers who have mixed antifreezes of different composition and additives. Foam appears in the expansion tank, as well as in the pipes of the cooling system. There is no point in adding a new liquid with anti-foam additives to the tank. CO must be completely rinsed several times, then pour fresh product into it.

With critical clogging of the hoses and lines of the cooling system, the following can occur:

• accelerated wear of bearing parts and their destruction;
• failure of the water pump caused by excessive heating of the mechanism;
• overheating of the HVD and the engine as a whole, which contributes to deformation and wear of the cylinder head gasket, as well as jamming of the pistons (an untimely solution to the problem will lead to their failure).

If you constantly use antifreeze of the same composition, then your engine will not face problems.

Damaged CO radiator Scale on the radiator device Deposits in CO CO hoses before and after cleaning

We dilute correctly

It is impossible to allow the operation of the cooling system on several different antifreezes at once. If two or more types interfere, the composition must be taken into account. It is important that the liquids have a similar base. Mixing of any brands is allowed, although this is undesirable and applies only to high quality products. Refrigerants belonging to the G11 standard can be diluted with any antifreeze except G12. As for G12 fluids, they are only allowed to be mixed with similar refrigerants or with products related to the G12+ standard. Do not mix with substances of another class.

G13 refrigerants can be diluted with G12+ as well as G12++ fluids. domestic production, which is considered a more aggressive means for many imported cars, is not allowed. Since these products have a fundamentally different basis. Why it is impossible to interfere with refrigerants of unequal compositions, we figured out, separately it should be said about dilution with water.

If you have fixed a lack of liquid in the OS, then you can replenish the volume with distillate, but this is only allowed in the warm season. In cold weather, adding water can cause it to freeze in the cooling system, which will negatively affect the functionality of the elements. Do not use tap liquid for mixing, as the composition contains substances that will lead to the formation of rust and scale. As a result, this will cause clogging of highways. In cold weather, adding water to the concentrate is not worth it, since usually it is at least 65% in any refrigerant.

What to do if you filled in antifreeze of a different classification?

The VChSLV channel on its video showed the process of flushing the cooling system, as well as replacing antifreeze.

If you mix different types of refrigerants in an automotive cooling system and do not flush it in time, this will lead to the formation of deposits. As soon as possible, cleaning is done, which will require a minimum of 10 liters of distilled water.

Execution process:

1. Open the hood, let the car engine cool down.
2. Substitute a container under the antifreeze drain hole or under the radiator into which “working out” will drain.
3. Remove the plug with a wrench or by hand. The spent substance will begin to merge.
4. When the liquid comes out, screw on the cap.
5. Pour distillate into the cooling system. Its volume should correspond to the amount of drained liquid. Citric acid can be added to the water (at the rate of 1 kg per 10 liters of distillate for severe contamination or 800 grams per 10 liters for non-critical deposits).
6. Start the engine, let it run for about 15-25 minutes.
7. Unscrew the drain plug and wait for the water to exit the system.
8. Remove the expansion tank. Sediment collects at the bottom. Perform a thorough cleaning of the tank. If the contamination is strong and is not washed out, the container is changed to a new one, after which it is installed in place.
9. If the drained liquid is too dirty and has traces of scale or deposits, repeat the flushing procedure again. Carry out cleaning until the water drained from the system becomes clear. Then you can fill in new antifreeze. We recommend assessing the condition of the pipes of the cooling system. If they are very clogged and flushing does not solve the problem, the hoses should be replaced. Also look at all gaskets and seals. In the event of their deterioration and critical condition, these components must be changed.

What is a coolant (antifreeze) today knows almost every motorist. But is it possible to mix blue and green antifreeze with each other and what of this will not be known to everyone. Since the topic is relevant for car owners, today we will talk about mixing coolant.

As you know, any refrigerant is a special liquid for cooling a vehicle engine. But the refrigerant can not only cool, but also freeze at too low an ambient temperature. It is also known that coolants ( further - OJ) can be divided into several colors that differ in composition and properties. Is it possible to mix antifreeze with Tosol or coolants of different colors? We will talk about this further.

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What happens if you mix?

Each individual coolant is produced on the basis of ethylene glycol and a certain composition of additives added to it and playing a different function. The main difference between coolants is not the color, whether red, green, blue or yellow, but their properties and characteristics, which in most cases are determined by color. For example, one refrigerant may have corrosion protection properties, another may have lubricity properties, and a third may have a specific operating temperature range.

In addition, refrigerants can differ among themselves in terms of boiling and freezing points in the system, as well as in the properties and degree of aggression to vehicle parts. It should also be noted here that not only the color determines the composition and properties of the coolant.

What happens if you mix coolants from different manufacturers? There can be two options here:

• mixed coolants of different colors form a mixture with each other, which may lose the properties of refrigerants. As a result of this, the life of the fluid will be significantly reduced, that is, its replacement will be literally necessary. This is at best;
• If different chemicals designed to prevent corrosion are mixed together, they can work against each other. Such mixing can cause not only the need to flush the entire cooling system, but also its quick breakdown.

Initially, all coolants are colorless. The dye is added to them by the manufacturer himself in order to distinguish them from each other in terms of properties and composition. But if the composition of refrigerants from different manufacturers may be the same, then the package of added additives may well differ. When additives were not so popular, all antifreezes, even from different manufacturers, were essentially the same. But everything has changed with progress, when additives have become an integral part of any refrigerant.

What can happen from mixing good and/or bad liquids? Of course, for the vehicle - nothing good:

• foaming . Foam formation in the cooling system and expansion tank is one of the most common problems. Often, domestic motorists do not pay due attention to the choice of coolant, as a result of which foam may form in the system over time. Only a complete flushing of the system or the use of high-quality coolant will help eliminate such a problem, no matter what high-quality antifreeze you subsequently use;
• sediment formation. The appearance of sediment in the cooling system is also a common problem. As a result of mixing coolants of different colors or manufacturers, chemical elements may refuse to interact with each other. Because of this, the coolant can turn into a thick mixture, which, of course, will not flow as easily through the system as before mixing. In the future, the nozzles of the cooling system become clogged with sediment, which can only be removed by timely complete flushing of the system. If you did not flush the system in time, then most likely you will have to change the hoses in the future.

Also, clogging of the pipes of the cooling system in the motor and radiator can cause:

• overheating of the water pump and its further breakdown;
• failure of the bearing;
• overheating of the head or motor block, which will lead to deformation of the gasket and jamming of the elements of the cylinder-piston group. In case of untimely repair, you are guaranteed the breakdown of these components.

But if you stick to the use of a certain "Tosol" on an ongoing basis, then this does not threaten your car. The main thing when adding is that the composition and additives in them are the same.

What refrigerants can be mixed with each other?

If the "garage" masters tell you that different coolants from the same manufacturer can be mixed with each other, then you should know that this is a lie of pure water. This opinion exists mainly among experienced motorists who still remember the times when water, not antifreeze, was poured into the cooling system of a car. Because of this, they believe that there will be nothing bad from mixing the coolant, because "they are all useful for the car."

But that's not all. If you decide to interfere with the coolant and add green antifreeze from one manufacturer to green, but of a different brand, you cannot say for sure that they are the same in their properties. This is because in the production of one coolant line, the manufacturer can still adhere to one composition, but this cannot be said about the refrigerant produced by another company. Even if these coolants are the same color.

As you understand, color does not affect the properties and characteristics of the refrigerant at all. The only thing you need to pay attention to when mixing is the composition and additives of antifreeze. Therefore, in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, coolant manufacturers use the G11 and G12 standards to make it easier for a motorist to choose when buying a coolant.

How do these standards differ from each other?

1. G11 and G12 are approved for the use of Volkswagen refrigerants;
2. Coolant G11 and G12 have a different composition and base:

• G11 is made on the basis of ethylene glycol, and its service life is about two years;
• G12 is made on the basis of carboxylate, and there are no silicates in its composition. Due to this, its service life is no more than four years.

Attention: mixing antifreezes of these two standards is unacceptable!

If, nevertheless, it became necessary to add liquid to the system, and the same coolant that you previously poured into your car is not at hand, then it is better to add distilled water. In the summer, you can completely fill in the distillate, but before the onset of cold weather, it will need to be replaced with coolant. At sub-zero temperatures, the water in the system will simply freeze and this will not end in anything good for the car owner.

Mixing antifreezes of different colors, whether blue, red, green or yellow, is allowed only if they have the same composition and additive package. In addition, if coolants of different colors have the same composition and, accordingly, an additive package, then mixing them will not harm the vehicle's cooling system in any way. In all other cases, mixing of refrigerants is not allowed.

Video "Classification of types of coolant"

This video describes the classifications of refrigerants and the difference between Antifreeze and traditional antifreeze.

Did you like this material? What can you add about coolant mixing? Share your opinion, it is very important to us!

Coolant plays an important role in vehicle performance. Its chemical composition is selected by manufacturers in such a way as to ensure comfortable operation of vehicles. In order for consumers to visually distinguish between the products of individual companies with certain characteristics, the composition is painted in the appropriate tones. In this regard, motorists often have the question of whether it is possible to mix antifreeze of different colors.

This is due to the characteristics of the chemical composition. The substances included in the liquid are capable of entering into an undesirable reaction, depriving the products of their properties. However, some compounds are neutral among themselves and do not affect each other, so you should know what you can mix red antifreeze or a liquid of a different color with, and what you absolutely should not do it with.

The main task of antifreeze is to remove heat from the cylinder block. The main difference from water is stable operation at low temperatures, which allows you to operate the car without problems even during frosts.

Coolant manufacturers have different goals. Most often it is possible to achieve the following parameters:

• ensuring neutrality with respect to metallic elements;
• non-reaction with rubber gaskets and pipelines;
• no insoluble precipitation during operation, etc.

The composition of additives that affect the properties of the liquid helps to achieve a successful result.

Some time ago, manufacturers used color differentiation for their products. Then the question of whether it is possible to mix red and green antifreeze received an unambiguous negative answer. This was due to the fact that reddish hues indicated the acidic composition of the product, while the use of green or blue tones indicated a silicate composition. The main popular brands adhere to this method now.

All compositions available on the market are designed to remove excess heat from the motor both in summer and in winter. At the same time, under any conditions, the physicochemical parameters and composition should not change dramatically. This fully applies to domestic antifreeze.

Significantly more predicted operational parameters are laid down for practice in laboratories:

• foam resistance;
• no formation of solid particles after long-term operation;
• anti-corrosion resistance, etc.

Some brands have a more stable product, while others do not always manage to achieve positive results in full. Cheaper in comparison with foreign analogues, antifreeze is more prone to foaming and has a minimum set of additives. This limits its scope of use, especially for modern cars with turbines.

When thinking about whether it is possible to interfere with antifreeze of different colors, it is worth considering that different companies may have different fluid life. Cheaper samples serve 50-60 thousand kilometers, and the motorcycle run of a quality product reaches 130-160 thousand kilometers. Although in most cases the basis for the composition is ethylene glycol.

This component allows you to use antifreeze in any conditions without worrying about freezing. It should be borne in mind that without the additional use of additives, ethylene glycol quickly forms foci of corrosion on metal surfaces. In this regard, special chemical additives are used.

The right choice of colors

Having received information about the composition of the liquid, some owners already independently determine the possibility of mixing. It is important to pay attention to the recommendations of car manufacturers, which indicate the desired composition and sometimes the color of the consumable.

This is due to the fact that auto companies test their products for compatibility with popular engine coolers. Based on long-term testing, the performance of the machines, the risk of corrosion or compatibility with other additives is determined. It also allows interactions with other similar fluids to be determined.

It is important to know that it will not be possible to determine its quality by the color of antifreeze, since this characteristic refers only to conditional information and does not have a significant effect on the chemical composition.

What happens if you mix antifreeze of different colors

The vehicle must maintain the specified coolant level for the engine. When it drops below a critical level, the driver must add the appropriate composition to the system.

If a different fluid is used for this purpose, performance parameters may deteriorate, including rapid foaming or precipitation due to the chemical reaction of the additives. Negative factors can arise not immediately, but after some time.

For a short trip, for example, in case of unforeseen emergencies and operation in gentle modes, experienced drivers can fill in another liquid that is not recommended by manufacturers. If a long subsequent operation is expected, then it is not worth the risk.

When determining why it is impossible to mix antifreeze of different colors, it is necessary to pay attention to the pump, which can quickly fail due to corrosion or precipitation. However, in such cases, it is worth paying attention not so much to color differences as to the chemical composition.

To understand if blue and green antifreeze can be mixed, it is important to read the labels from them. After all, even with a different visual marker, the liquids can be identical in components. Also, a single-color product does not always have similar parameters.

What and when do motorists pour into the cooling system

Often the change of antifreeze refers to seasonal events. Filling is also carried out when replacing the radiator. Most motorists, after purchasing a used car, try to update all technical fluids, including the cooling system.

The main division between technical fluids by marking is to indicate the class: G11, G12, G13. The first type is the cheapest, it includes domestic antifreeze, etc. It contains a minimum of additives and additives. In the second, more expensive class, there are carboxylate chemical additives that help protect against rust and improve heat dissipation.

The most environmentally friendly is the G13 group, made on the basis of polypropylene glycol. It is non-toxic and has a wide range of advantages compared to other groups. It is recommended by leading automakers. The abundance of chemical manufacturers has reduced color gradation to a minimum. Color has become more of a convention.

However, trusted old companies still have visual markers that can be trusted. The most commonly used systems are:

• G11 - green;
• G12 - red;
• G13 - purple or brown.

It is believed that G11 accepts any analogues. In G12, adding "eleven" is not worth it, but you can add "twelve" or G12 with pluses. In G13, it is worth pouring only “thirteen”, but the composition itself is allowed to be added to almost any antifreeze.

Mixing different colors of antifreeze, especially if G12 is yellow and G13 is blue, can cause damage. But topping up the green 11th green on the 13th is unlikely to have any negative impact.

To understand the issue that we will discuss in this article, you need to know what the differences between antifreezes of different colors are - we talked about this in.

As you know, antifreeze comes in different colors. For example, your antifreeze is over, but the same composition is not on sale. Can coolants of different colors be mixed? Or you can put the question like this: what can be mixed with what, and what cannot be mixed with what?

The answer is as follows: you can mix liquids from different manufacturers, but of the same standard. For example, mix G12 with G12, G11 with G11, and G13 with G13. Of course, you need to be sure that the purchased antifreeze is not a fake. If you buy antifreeze in a specialized store, then there will be no such doubts.

Thus, antifreezes of the same standard, but from different manufacturers, can be mixed.

And if you mix antifreeze of different colors?

What happens when you mix green and blue antifreeze? Or mix other different coolant colors?

Antifreezes of the same standard come in different colors. For example, antifreeze can be blue or red. G11 antifreeze comes in both green and blue. Please, you can mix red antifreeze with blue, and blue G11 with green G11.

G13 comes in purple and yellow. Yellow and purple antifreeze can be safely mixed with each other, as they belong to the same standard.

Thus, if antifreezes are of the same standard, but of different colors, then they can be mixed.

And if you mix antifreezes of different standards?

Can I mix antifreeze G11 and G12 - green and red? Here you already need to think, starting from the knowledge that we have about different antifreeze standards.

In general, it all depends on the amount of “non-native” antifreeze added: if a very small amount is added - within half a liter, then it will not be noticeable at all. Therefore, we are discussing the mixing of solid volumes of liquid.

If G11 (green) antifreeze is initially poured, and G12 (red) is added to it, then nothing will happen, since both compositions: 1) the base is the same - it is ethylene glycol, 2) carboxylic acid in additives, only in G12 it is much more . The only thing you need to understand is that corrosion protection will become worse if, in the composition of radiators and other elements of the cooling system of your car, aluminum alloys predominate, since G12 does not protect them well.

Now the situation is reversed. If G12 antifreeze is initially filled in, and G11 is added to it, then again there will be no fatal consequences. The disadvantages of mixing will be manifested in the fact that the heat dissipation in the cooling system will deteriorate, since G11 forms a protective anti-corrosion film on the inner walls of the nozzles. Over time, it is possible for a small amount of sediment to form from the film.

Of course, mixing G11 and G12 antifreezes is not fatal, but it is not desirable either. Coolants from different manufacturers have verified compositions, with a certain set of additives that correspond to a particular car. A set of "foreign" antifreeze additives may not be suitable for your car's cooling system.

Is it possible to mix antifreezes: yellow with green, yellow with red, purple with green, purple with red?

Yellow and purple antifreezes are G13 standard. As you know, red and green antifreezes are based on ethylene glycol, and yellow and purple are based on propylene glycol. Although ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are similar in structure, as they are monohydric alcohols, they are still different liquids.

Thus, G11 and G12 have one base, and G13 has another. By virtue of this circumstance alone, it is better not to mix yellow or purple antifreezes with red or green antifreezes, since the consequences of the interaction (or opposition) of alcohols in their composition are not predictable.

Another argument in favor of the inadmissibility of mixing G11 (G12) with G13 is additives. For ethylene glycol - in green and red antifreezes - an appropriate set of additives has been selected, and it is not a fact that it is compatible with propylene glycol - in the composition of yellow and purple antifreezes.

Thus, you cannot mix antifreezes: yellow with green, yellow with red, purple with green and purple with red.

CONCLUSION

There are different situations in the life of a driver, sometimes the antifreeze of the desired brand may not be on sale nearby. We hope this article helped you figure out the question: what kind of antifreeze - what can be mixed with, and with what - not.

Video: Is it possible to mix antifreeze - different colors and manufacturers? the same or different colors?

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Antifreeze - red, green, blue ... What's the difference? Does color affect the composition of coolant for a car? What happens if you mix two different colors of antifreeze?

Motorists are actively asking these questions before the onset of winter. Well, let's try to figure this out.

What does the color of antifreeze mean?

Antifreeze is a special liquid of a certain composition, designed to cool the power unit of a car. The difference between antifreeze and ordinary water in this case is the stability of performance properties over a wide temperature range, including very low ones. That is, using antifreeze, you can be sure that it will not freeze in the cold season.

There are a lot of tasks facing antifreeze manufacturers. The main ones include the stability of the chemical properties of antifreeze, its neutrality to metal and rubber elements of the engine and cooling system, guarantees against the occurrence of insoluble precipitation during operation. Manufacturers manage to provide all the specified characteristics through the use of a special package of additives that give the fluid the required properties.

More recently, differences in the chemical composition of antifreezes were determined visually - based on the color of the coolant, which can be red, green or blue. So, red color corresponded to acidic antifreezes, and blue and green to silicate ones. Today, such a gradation is not always used, however, for silicate and acid antifreezes, the division is still in force.

As is clear from the purpose, antifreeze of any composition is designed to perform the same function - to cool the engine and do it both in summer and in winter without significant changes in its own physical properties. In fact, any antifreeze available on the market, including domestic antifreeze, meets this criterion.

However, in practice there are many more criteria. These include:

• resistance to foaming;
• effectiveness of anti-corrosion additives;
• guarantees against the appearance of insoluble sediment during long-term operation, etc.

In fact, antifreezes differ in these characteristics. Some “work” more efficiently, others less. These features are necessarily taken into account when designing a car, and the automaker provides its own recommendations regarding antifreeze that is optimal for use in a particular car engine.

So, for example, the domestic "Tosol" has a small number of protective additives and a tendency to foam, which limits its use in modern turbocharged power units of most foreign cars and many domestic models.

Video - is it possible to mix antifreezes of different brands:

Another important nuance is the resource of antifreeze, that is, its service life as an engine coolant. For most foreign antifreezes, it is approximately 120-150 thousand kilometers, and for the aforementioned "Tosol" it is, at best, about 60 thousand kilometers.

Speaking about the composition of antifreezes, it is worth noting that all of them - from the domestic "Tosol" to the most expensive branded liquids, have the same base, the role of which is played by ethylene glycol.

This substance has a very low freezing point and allows the use of antifreezes based on it in any frost. However, in itself, this substance is very active and, with a “naked” application, will cause rapid corrosion of internal metal elements.

It is for this reason that all antifreeze manufacturers use special additives that prevent the formation of rust, reduce foaming of the composition, increase lubricating properties, and so on. It is from these additives that the color of antifreeze largely depends.

Red, green or blue...

Having studied the difference between antifreezes, many motorists are wondering which antifreeze is better - red or green, or maybe blue? It can be answered briefly - the best antifreeze is the one that the car manufacturer recommends for use.

This is due to the fact that automakers conduct their own testing of certain compositions, and when using the recommended fluid, there is a guarantee that all components in the cooling system will work properly, and there is no risk of corrosion.

Accordingly, when using a coolant of a different composition, even if more expensive, it may not always lead to a better result on a particular motor.

At the same time, the color of the coolant does not play any role at all - what was advised, then we pour. It goes without saying that in such a situation it is not necessary to talk about which antifreeze is better or worse.

Is it possible to mix antifreezes of different colors

As we wrote above, the color of antifreeze is often dictated by the characteristics of its chemical composition, more precisely, the characteristics of the additives introduced into it. Accordingly, an antifreeze of a similar composition should be used for topping up.

This is due to the fact that many additives can react quite aggressively with each other. Such a chemical interaction can be expressed by the appearance of a precipitate, an increased tendency to foaming and other unpleasant features.

At the same time, they do not appear immediately, but for a long time.

In fact, this means one thing - if you added antifreeze of a different color and composition to the system to get home, and then replaced the coolant in the engine with the one recommended by the manufacturer, then there will be no harm. If you operate the car on such a mixture for a long time, then there is a rather high risk of harming the cooling system.

Video - is it possible to mix blue and green antifreeze:

First of all, in the "risk group" is the pump, which may well fail due to corrosion or sediment, which will have an abrasive effect on its mechanisms.

So, as we found out, in most cases mixing antifreezes of different colors is undesirable. However, it is worth noting that today there has been a trend towards the release of antifreezes similar in composition, in which the color of the liquid may vary.

Based on this, one should pay attention not so much to the color of the coolant as to its composition indicated on the canister. If the parameters match, the liquids are quite suitable for mixing even if their color differs from each other.

At the same time, not all antifreezes of the same color can be complementary due to differences in the composition of the additives used in them.

Which antifreeze is better to fill and in what cases

Replacing antifreeze, in most cases, is a seasonal event. Often it is also timed to repair the cooling system, for example, replacing the radiator. In addition, antifreeze, along with other operating fluids, is recommended for replacement. And in this case, the question often arises of which antifreeze to fill in and in what cases.

Speaking of antifreeze, first of all it is worth noting the fact that most liquids are divided into certain classes - G11, G12 and G13.

The G11 class includes cheap antifreezes containing a minimum set of additives. As a matter of fact, the domestic "Tosol" and its analogues can be attributed to it.

The G12 class implies more expensive antifreezes based on carboxylate additives. They have better heat dissipation capabilities and also provide better corrosion protection.

Class G13 antifreezes are based on polypropylene glycol, which makes the antifreeze more environmentally friendly to use. Such a liquid is not poisonous, and at the same time it has all the advantages of other types of antifreeze. As a matter of fact, most modern automakers recommend the use of this group of antifreezes, and are guided not only by technical aspects, but also by the concepts of environmental friendliness.

Accordingly, it is necessary to look at the class of the product, and not at its color, which, in this case, does not play a role.

In fact, when replacing antifreeze, you should be guided solely in accordance with the technical characteristics of your vehicle, as well as the specifications for admission. The latter has its own for each car and is indicated by a specific code, which is also indicated on the antifreeze canister.

For example, for the specification for approval it is designated as SSM-97B9102A, for Volkswagen - VW TL-774, for BMW - No. 600.69.0. and so on. According to the recommendations of the automaker, you should select the antifreeze that you will use throughout the entire period of operation.

It should be remembered that antifreeze is presented on the market in two types - concentrate and liquid, ready for use. The difference of the concentrate is that it is diluted with distilled water in the specified proportion, which, in most cases, is 1:1.

At the same time, there is no difference in which antifreeze to use - diluted or concentrate. In fact, ready-made antifreeze in canisters is the essence of the same concentrate, but already diluted to you by the manufacturer. So only the factor of personal convenience plays a role here, but not the performance of the coolant.

conclusions

Based on the foregoing, we see that the performance of antifreeze depends not so much on its color, but on the composition and, most importantly, the package of additives used in it.

In this case, you should use only antifreezes recommended for your car, and any mixing experiments are possible only in an emergency, and by no means for permanent use in a car.

At the same time, you should strictly follow the regulations for replacing the coolant and do not forget about safety measures, because any ethylene glycol-based antifreeze (and these are all compounds on the market) is a highly toxic product that must be kept away from children and used very carefully.