Can green and red antifreeze be used together?
2 Answers
Green and red antifreeze cannot be used together. The reasons for their different colors are: 1. To distinguish them from other liquids and prevent accidental ingestion; 2. To check the amount of antifreeze added. The full name of antifreeze is antifreeze coolant, which is a coolant with antifreeze function. The components of antifreeze are: inorganic calcium chloride, organic methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, glycerin, lubricating oil, and purified water. The main functions of antifreeze are: 1. To provide antifreeze protection for the engine, enabling it to withstand low-temperature environments; 2. To prevent the coolant from freezing and cracking the radiator or damaging the engine cylinder block and cylinder head when parking in cold winters; 3. To provide efficient heat dissipation.
Last time when my car was low on coolant, I temporarily added some green one, while the original was red. After driving for two days, I noticed bubbles in the cooling system. It wasn't until I took it to the repair shop that I realized the trouble I had caused. Coolants of different colors have completely different formulations—green is usually ethylene glycol-based, while red might be Organic Acid Technology (OAT). Mixing them can cause scaling and corrode the radiator. Now, whenever I change the coolant, I strictly stick to the same color and make sure to thoroughly flush the system. If I ever find the level low on the road, I'd rather top it up with distilled water as an emergency measure than mix colors, to avoid ending up like me, spending a fortune on water pump repairs.