All about antifreeze: how to choose, when to change, what the color depends on

In Europe and Russia, the VolksWagen classification applies:

• G11 - green
• G12 - red
• G13 - yellow, orange (formerly G12+), violet (compositions developed after 2012)

Choosing antifreeze only by color is wrong. While European and Japanese manufacturers still adhere to some kind of color system, Americans paint antifreeze as needed. Therefore, the first selection criterion should be the class of coolant.

In addition, modern antifreezes differ in the composition of their additives and can be: traditional, lobrid, carboxylate and hybrid.

What does the color of antifreeze mean?

Antifreeze of different colors on store shelves Answering the question posed in the title, we can confidently answer: absolutely nothing. It’s just that the manufacturer likes this or that shade, so he uses it to color products. However, there are many misconceptions surrounding this topic, which means that not everything is so simple. So, let's try to figure it out: antifreeze is red, green, blue - what's the difference?

Cooling characteristic

It is worth noting that these fluids also have an expiration date and need to be replaced. Many people are very surprised by the large assortment of products and cannot make a choice, because all antifreezes have different shades. Therefore, before purchasing, you need to read their basic properties and determine the quality. Antifreeze is a non-freezing liquid designed to protect the car engine from overheating. It allows the engine to operate at a normal rhythm. Antifreeze performs the same functions. Their composition is identical. The boiling point of the liquid is 140 degrees.

What is antifreeze

What is antifreeze and what can be called this word? In English it translates as “non-freezing”. This is the common name for any coolant for a car’s cooling system. And this coolant is not water. Water freezes quickly, boils already at 100 degrees Celsius, and when freezing it expands, leading to ruptures and breakdowns of the system. That's why antifreeze was invented.

The composition of any of them includes an alcohol base, distilled water, and additives - organic or inorganic. It is also possible to add glycerin and other components.

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What antifreezes can be mixed: compatibility table

In some situations, it becomes necessary to combine different cooling compounds. Liquids have to be mixed, for example, when you need to add the missing amount of coolant to the system in case of unexpected breakdowns on the road. To extend the service life of cooling system components, you need to study in advance information about the compatibility of different compositions.

Types, types and technical characteristics of antifreeze depending on the marking

The service life and performance of the engine are directly affected not only by the condition of the engine oil, but also by the quality of the coolant. Previously, antifreeze was popular, now car enthusiasts choose antifreeze. Each type has its own composition and even color. Why is it needed and how to choose it?

What color are antifreezes?

Antifreezes red, green, blue and yellow
All coolants also contain a dye. What color is antifreeze? The most commonly used are red, green, blue dyes and their shades - that is, blue, crimson, pink, light green, turquoise. There is also yellow, orange, violet, and with them lilac, lilac, yellow-green, red-orange.

Since there are no standards regulating the color of coolant, everything depends on the manufacturer’s imagination. What does the color of antifreeze mean, and what is coloring used for? Read on.

Functions of specific colors

There are a large number of types of antifreeze on the modern automotive market. Available in many different colors, from blue to yellow. In addition, mixing of colors and the production of certain shades can occur.

It should be taken into account that the color of the coolant is done by the manufacturer - the color of the antifreeze does not indicate any technical properties. It is for this reason that the technical properties of such a liquid should be studied in advance. Manufacturers add color additives to coolants for the following reasons:

• Helps quickly and easily determine the location of the leak. To do this, use fluorescent lamps, which allow you to highlight areas of leakage.
• Helps prevent antifreeze from mixing with water. If coolant enters the body, it will cause multiple side effects, in some cases even death.
• Distinguishes certain types of antifreeze from others.

Why are they painted?

Why are antifreeze different colors? After all, the various colors of antifreeze are only misleading. It should be said that antifreeze itself is colorless and transparent. And there are three reasons for coloring it:

1. Difference from water. Coolant is poisonous, so the main reason is so that it can be distinguished from water and not be drunk by mistake.
2. Difference from each other. As a rule, the same brand has a whole line of liquids with different properties. If they were all the same color it would create confusion.
3. Finding leaks. What color is antifreeze usually? Whatever it is, it is bright. This is done in order to quickly find leaks. For the same purpose, manufacturers often add a fluorescent dye to the composition, which can be detected under ultraviolet light.

Well, don’t forget about the marketing component. For example, there is a popular opinion that red is the best - so the manufacturer will use this shade.

The best manufacturers

Several companies have established themselves as the best suppliers of antifreeze. Among them there are both Russian and foreign manufacturers. According to consumer reviews, the products of the following companies are in demand:

1. Tosol-sintez is one of the few Russian manufacturers of auto chemicals that enjoys the trust of motorists.
2. Obninskorgsintez is still a fairly young Russian company producing high-quality oils and antifreezes.
3. Liqui Moly is a German company that distributes its products in 120 countries.
4. Motul is a French company with a 165-year history that produces biodegradable materials.

You can choose products from these manufacturers or other reputable companies.

The main thing is that the car works properly and does not cause inconvenience. Sometimes the choice of liquid is so difficult that several brands are mixed. But there are rules for this.

What is the difference between antifreeze colors?

As already mentioned, what colors antifreeze comes in is not regulated anywhere or by anyone. Where then do so many myths come from that claim, for example, what color antifreeze is best for which car? The thing is that although there are no requirements, most manufacturers adhere to unspoken standards. And here's what the shades mean:

Blue

Soviet TOSOL was painted blue or light blue, and it is still painted now. Is there blue antifreeze? First of all, it must be said that antifreeze is any coolant, which means antifreeze too. Other blue antifreeze is usually G11. These are traditional coolants. They are usually based on silicate additives. The peculiarity of such coolants is that they create a protective layer on the surface of parts, thereby preventing the formation of corrosion. But at the same time, heat transfer worsens.

Green

Green antifreeze brands are popular among motorists. Most often, liquids of standards G11 and G12+ are colored this way. The first ones are traditional. The second includes hybrid ones. They involve both organic and inorganic additives. This was done in order to combine the protective properties of silicates with the excellent thermal conductivity of carboxylic acids. Green coolant that meets these standards will last 2-3 years.

Red

The opinion that red antifreeze brands are the best is due to the fact that carboxylate coolants are often painted in it and its shades. They comply with the G12 or G12++ (improved) standard. These red antifreezes are based on organic additives that have excellent heat transfer and act specifically on corrosion - where it has already begun, but, alas, cannot prevent its occurrence. Red coolant is the most popular.

Yellow

But yellow antifreeze can meet any standard and be manufactured using any technology. Although most often hybrid and lobrid liquids are painted in it. There are also a variety of yellow-green coolants. As a rule, they are traditional or hybrid.

Violet

Violet dye, as well as lilac, lilac and pink, are most often used in the manufacture of G13 products. These are lobrid liquids. Their main difference is that propylene glycol is used as a base (all others use ethylene glycol). Therefore, they are considered more environmentally friendly and safer for humans. They also have a very long service life.

G12 – red liquids

These are completely organic products containing predominantly carboxylic acid. It is worth noting that the formation of films when using them is excluded. They do not create blockages, do not crumble, and are excellent at removing rust. In general, the products in this category are much more pleasing than both previous solutions.

When using them, there are no problems with heat removal, and existing corrosion is localized and does not develop further. Also, they can not be changed for 5 years. However, they also have their disadvantages. Thus, these products do not prevent corrosion and do not protect aluminum parts well. These products can also have advantages that indicate variations in composition.

Is it possible to mix antifreeze of different colors?

Mixing red and blue antifreeze
The above division is very arbitrary and is not used by all manufacturers. There are coolant lines with the same composition, but painted in four to five different tones. This means that you cannot select and mix antifreeze by color.

This leads to the answer to the question: is it possible to mix antifreeze of different colors? It is possible only if they are based on the same technology and similar composition. You can mix red and green antifreeze if they are both carboxylate or both traditional!

Important! You should not listen to harmful advice that green can only be mixed with green, and red can only be added to red. Antifreeze color compatibility is nothing more than a myth. When choosing, the only thing you need to focus on is the production technology, which determines both the composition and properties.

And if you mix two products of the same tone, but of different composition, the liquid can thicken, precipitate and thereby harm the cooling system.

Helpful information

Manufacturers of auto chemicals classify the entire former USSR as Europe, which is why we have a European antifreeze classification system. More precisely, not even European, but VAG. These are the same classes G11-G13 mentioned above.

Japanese antifreezes are also divided by color, but the color indicates the freezing point, not the composition or class. Red “Japanese” lasts up to -30 degrees, green - up to -25, yellow - up to -20.

In the USA there is no color policy. These are mainly red and green liquids containing nitrites. Nitrite antifreezes are prohibited for use in Europe. The closest substitutes for “Americans” are carboxylate antifreeze G12/13.

Russian “Tosol” comes in blue (operating temperature up to -40), green (under the G11 standard), red (operating temperature up to -50).

What does it mean if the color changes

If during operation the color of the coolant changes slightly - it becomes darker or cloudy - this is normal. After all, in addition to the cooling function, it also has a cleansing function.

But if suddenly the antifreeze is brown and thick, and there is still a lot of time before replacement, this means that the cooling system is in poor condition. If the antifreeze has turned a rusty color, then most likely there are pockets of corrosion somewhere.

Thickening, cloudiness, and sedimentation can also occur if different compositions are mixed - even not on purpose. For example, a traditional one was poured, and you decided to switch to carboxylate. Drained the fluid and filled it with new one. But when the cream is creamed, some percentage of it remains inside the system. This is where the mixing occurs. Therefore, before replacing the coolant, the system must be flushed.

And, of course, the reason why antifreeze changes color may simply be its low quality.

What does practice say?

Manufacturers of antifreeze do not agree on the “recipes” of their products among themselves, since mixing is not provided for by technical regulations. Therefore, situations often occur when two different coolants enter into different destructive reactions. For example, the resulting composition may thicken already in the pipeline, which will lead to flushing. Sometimes components of different antifreezes neutralize important qualities of each other. For example, it has been experimentally proven that adding even a small amount of G11 to the bulk of G12 leads to complete neutralization of the carboxylate properties of the additive composition. It turns out that the additive simply spoiled all the coolant.

conclusions

And now conclusions in the form of common questions and answers:

• Antifreeze red, green, blue - what is the difference between them? Most manufacturers color liquids of different standards in different colors.
• Can you mix different colors of antifreeze? It is possible if they are made using the same technology.
• Is it possible to mix red and green antifreeze? It is possible if they are both carboxylate or traditional.
• What does the color of antifreeze affect? The dye itself does not affect anything and does not change the properties of the liquid in any way.
• What colors of antifreeze can be mixed with each other? You need to mix liquids based on production technology, not color.
• The antifreeze has turned rusty, what is the reason? A change in color may indicate poor quality, mixing it with unsuitable coolant, or a problem with the cooling system.

Let's hope that this article will dispel motorists' doubts about colors and help them make the right choice!

Antifreeze red - green - blue. What is the difference? Just something complicated

Purpose of additives

In addition to alcohols and water, antifreeze contains 20% additives, depending on which most manufacturers paint their products in certain colors. The main function of additives is to protect car parts from the aggressive effects of the alcohol component. If you simply pour a mixture of dihydric alcohol and water into the engine, the result can be disastrous - all metal elements will begin to rust, and rubber tubes will be completely corroded.

Of course, the engine block and radiators will not collapse immediately, but the first breakdowns will begin to occur after a few months, so you should not skimp on antifreeze. But different types of coolant add their own additives. They vary in price, ability to neutralize the activity of alcohols and provide certain properties.

First generation

Russian-made antifreeze, produced using Soviet methods, is called antifreeze. It is usually blue in color and can withstand temperatures of -30 ... - 40 °C. But there is also an improved version that works perfectly at -50 °C and can withstand -65 °C. It is usually painted red.

Antifreeze contains traditional additives:

• silicates;
• phosphates;
• borates;
• nitrites.

These inorganic substances form a protective film on the surface of the car's elements, which does not allow pipes, pipes and the radiator to come into contact with an aggressive environment. The first invented antifreeze composition turned out to be a breakthrough in mechanical engineering technology, but at present it is already very outdated and has serious disadvantages:

• service life not exceeding 2, maximum 3, years;
• boiling point from 110 °C to 115 °C.

Service life must be observed carefully, otherwise the additives will stop working and machine elements will deteriorate.

The composition and characteristics of antifreeze are so flawed that it cannot be used in foreign cars, since their engines can either be destroyed over time due to the activity of the fluid, or may not start at all after the first use. In addition, imported cars often have high-temperature engines operating at 110 °C, and the antifreeze will simply boil under such conditions.

Organic improvement

A small addition of carboxylic acid to inorganic additives makes the antifreeze more perfect. The mixture, codenamed G11, envelops engine elements with a reliable film and successfully fights corrosion. These are the undeniable advantages of the liquid, but it is also not without its disadvantages:

• heat removal is difficult due to the formed film;
• long-term use can lead to the formation of plaque on the surface of the cooling system elements, which creates a threat of clogging of small channels;
• replacement should be carried out every 2-3 years.

Traditionally, a mixture of this composition is green, but some manufacturers make it yellow or blue.

Sometimes the packaging says G11+ or G11++, but the entire improvement of such antifreeze consists in increasing the volume of carboxylic acid in the composition, but in essence it remains the same liquid, not without its drawbacks and is too close in terms of performance to antifreeze, which is of low quality.

Use of carboxylic acid

Organic components are needed in antifreeze: they form a very thin film only 1 micron thick, which allows for better heat transfer and avoids shedding that clogs important components of the car. Like the previous types, they cope well with rust, but, unlike antifreeze or G11, they last about 5 years.

This antifreeze is called G12, and it is red in color. It uses carboxylic acid as an organic substance, but, unlike green antifreeze, red antifreeze contains it in a much larger volume. Unfortunately, despite all the advantages, the G12 is also not without significant disadvantages:

• while successfully combating already formed rust, it is not able to prevent the cooling system from the formation of new foci of corrosion;
• the effectiveness of the action varies greatly for parts made of different metals: for copper and brass it is high, but for aluminum it is not enough.

Both green and red antifreeze have variations with one or two pluses (G12+, G12++). By analogy, this means that the volume of acid in the composition has been increased due to a decrease in the amount of inorganic additives.

You can also find G13 antifreeze on the market. It is usually purple in color and contains propylene glycol as the main substance, as well as silicates and carboxylic acid as additives.

Standard G13

Manufacturers claim that G13 is a new technology that is fundamentally different from previous ones. The color of G13 antifreeze can be red, pink, purple, yellow, which once again proves that this is not an indicator when choosing a coolant for a car.

The basis of the G13 standard is propylene glycol, and not ethylene glycol, as was the case in previous standards. The difference between these products is their improved environmental friendliness. Propylene glycol is considered environmentally friendly, while ethylene glycol is considered toxic.

Freezing point

In the United States, manufacturers have gone their own way; there is no connection to color. The product used predominantly in the country is red or green and contains nitrites.

In accordance with European legislation, this type of antifreeze is prohibited due to the high presence of carcinogens in them. In European countries, two types of coolant are used - G12 and G12+. The color of the product indicates the tolerance class, which manufacturers indicate on the label, in the instructions for use and on their official Internet pages.