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

These questions are actively asked by motorists before the onset of winter. Well, let's try to figure it out.

What does the color of antifreeze mean

Antifreeze is a special liquid of a certain composition intended for cooling power unit car. The difference between antifreeze and ordinary water in this case is the stability of the performance properties in a wide range of temperatures, 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 deposits 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, the red color corresponded to acid antifreezes, and blue and green to silicate ones. Today, such a gradation is not always used, however, with regard to silicate and acid antifreezes, the separation is still valid.

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

Strictly speaking, antifreezes differ in these characteristics. Some "work" more efficiently, others less. These features must be taken into account when designing a car, and the automaker provides its own recommendations for antifreeze that is optimal for use in a particular car engine.

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

Video - is it possible to mix antifreeze 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 "Tosola" it is, at best, about 60 thousand kilometers.

Speaking about the composition of antifreeze, 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 antifreeze based on it in any frost. However, this substance itself is very active and, when used “bare”, will cause rapid corrosion of internal metal elements.

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

Red, green or blue ...

Having studied the difference between antifreezes, many motorists are wondering which antifreeze is better - red or green, or maybe blue? You can answer it briefly - most best antifreeze the one recommended for use by the car manufacturer.

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 as expected, and there is no risk of corrosion.

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

At the same time, the color of the coolant plays absolutely no role - what was advised, then we pour. It goes without saying that in such a situation there is no need to talk about which antifreeze is better or worse.

Can I mix different colors of antifreeze

As we already wrote above, the color of antifreeze is often dictated by the peculiarities of its chemical composition, more precisely, the characteristics of the additives introduced into it. Accordingly, antifreeze of the same 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 sediment, an increased tendency to foaming and other unpleasant features.

Moreover, they do not appear immediately, but over a long period of 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 a car on a similar 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 antifreeze different colors undesirable. However, it is worth noting that today there is a tendency to release antifreezes with similar composition, in which the color of the liquid may differ.

Based on this, you should pay attention not so much to the color of the coolant, but to its composition, indicated on the canister. If the parameters are the same, the liquids are quite suitable for mixing even if their color is different from each other.

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

What antifreeze is better to fill in and in what cases

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

Speaking about antifreeze, first of all, it is worth noting the fact that most fluids 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.

G12 class means more expensive antifreezes based on carboxylate additives. They have the best heat dissipation ability, and also give better protection from corrosion.

G13 class antifreezes are based on polypropylene glycol, which makes antifreeze more environmentally friendly to use. This liquid is not poisonous, and at the same time has all the advantages of other types of antifreeze. As a matter of fact, most modern car manufacturers recommend using 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 technical characteristics your his vehicle, as well as 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 admission it is designated as SSM-97B9102A, for Volkswagen - VW TL-774, for BMW - No. 600.69.0. etc. Accordingly, the recommendations of the automaker and you should select antifreeze that you will use throughout the entire period of operation.

It should be remembered that there are two types of antifreeze on the market - a concentrate and a ready-to-use liquid. The difference between 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 cans is essentially the same concentrate, but already diluted before 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 as 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 experiments with mixing are possible only in emergency situationbut not for permanent use in a car.

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

Often novice motorists are faced with a problem when choosing suitable antifreeze for your car. They can't choose whether to use red antifreeze or green? They cannot understand how they actually differ, except for color. Let's try to clarify this issue.

Red and green antifreeze: the difference

Eighty percent of each antifreeze has exactly the same composition - an antifreeze liquid that consists of either propylene glycol or ethylene glycol. The remaining twenty percent are all sorts of additives that are designed for fluid overload. For example, at high temperatures, it is they who can prevent the liquid from boiling, keeping working temperature car engine. And when low temperatures other additives allow the fluid to warm up faster.

Each manufacturer uses its own additive package. And even in a line from one manufacturer, antifreezes may well differ in the amount and composition of additives. They can be anti-foam, rubber-reducing, anti-corrosion, and so on.

Red antifreeze has a local effect, which means that if even slight corrosion has formed in the system, additives will localize it. Thanks to this, it works for five years, after which its additives are depleted. Best suited for high-speed as well as temperature-loaded engines.

Green antifreeze interacts with all surfaces of the systems, covering parts of it with a protective film. Its service life is up to three years. It is the cheapest option for antifreeze.

And now we can move on to the question: when to use red and green antifreeze?

It is logical that different foreign cars have different engines, stove and engine cooling radiators. In some, there is more copper or brass in the composition, in some - aluminum and its alloys. Antifreeze is inherently an aggressive liquid due to additives that are designed for different metals. If there is more copper, brass and their alloys in the engine, then you need to take red antifreeze, and if there is more aluminum and its alloys, then you should take green antifreeze.

No, of course, you can pour green antifreeze into a brass radiator, but it will oxidize its walls from the inside, then a deposit will form on this place, which will interfere with the normal cooling of the engine. In order not to make mistakes, read the specification - in it the manufacturer always indicates which antifreeze should be used - red or green.

Can different antifreezes be mixed?

In no case should you do this. We have already figured out that red and green antifreeze have different additive compositions that are absolutely incompatible with each other. Mixing two colors of antifreeze will lead to the fact that it will curdle, precipitate, and then not far and before the engine overheats.

Today, the automotive chemistry market offers a wide range of consumables, in particular, it will be about coolant. The performance of the cooling system and all components depends on its quality and circulation. Which antifreeze is better than green or red, what is their service life and whether these liquids can be mixed, we will tell below.

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The common basis for all antifreezes

To understand which one is better to choose and fill the refrigerant, it is necessary to understand the composition of the product. After all, the quality of the cooling system depends on the base of the liquid.

The composition may differ depending on the manufacturer, but in the base of any antifreeze there is a glycol-water concentrate, which determines:

• resistance to freezing during operation in conditions of low negative temperatures;
• specific heat capacity of the liquid, which determines normal work unit without overheating;
• viscosity, as well as the ability of the refrigerant to collect on the walls of the expansion tank;
• resistance of chemical components of the substance to negative effects on the rubber elements of the cooling system.

In addition to the glycol-water concentrate, the product contains distilled water. The fact is that the base base has an insufficiently low temperature threshold for freezing, which is approximately -13 ° C. If the concentrate is diluted with distillate, the refrigerant will crystallize at -30 ° C or -40 ° C.

In addition, manufacturers use additives in the composition of fluids that perform various functions:

1. Anti-corrosion. Designed to prevent the negative effects of corrosion on the metal elements of the radiator device and other components of the unit.
2. Anti-foam. Used to prevent the formation of foam in the cooling system.
3. Stabilizing. Substances designed to ensure stable operation in different conditions car operation.

In the manufacture of refrigerants with an ethylene glycol base, the parameters are normalized:

• liquid color;
• the value of its density;
• crystallization temperature at which antifreeze will freeze;
• the effect of rust on the elements of the cooling system;
• the possibility of foaming.

Other parameters, such as the amount of additives used, the permissibility of mixing the fluids, and their shade, are determined by the manufacturers. The same applies to the service life and service life in general.

Varieties

According to the standards, the products are classified into G11, G12, G12 +, G12 ++ and G13.

And according to the composition of the liquid, they are divided among themselves into types:

1. Carboxylate. These refrigerants are among the best in terms of resource of use, as well as operating parameters. They are approved for use in motors of many modern cars... In 2005, the domestic concern AvtoVAZ gave official approval for the use of fluids based on carboxylate compounds. All new cars began to fill up with such antifreezes. Their main feature is the absence of inorganic additives in the composition. They are also poured on all assembly lines where domestic foreign cars... Typically fluids meet G12 and G12 + standards.
2. Traditional. Such antifreezes are produced using inorganic technologies. Today they are not relevant, their use was advisable at the end of the last century. Manufacturers have virtually ceased to produce traditional refrigerants. Basically, these liquids are made by "shrubs" that can paint their products in any color.
3. Hybrid. These antifreezes do an excellent job with the responsibilities assigned to them. They are marked with G11 on canisters. Refrigerants covered by this standard are subjected to numerous tests before they enter the market. They are used for primary refueling of Mercedes, Chrysler and BMW vehicles assembled on conveyors.
4. Lobrids. Lobrid standard fluids appeared on our market after 2008. According to the official specification, they are marked as G12 ++ or G13. They differ from ordinary carboxylate substances by the presence of additives based on inorganic compounds - silicates.

Channel “Learning to Drive. The Fan Channel of the Main Road published a video about the main differences between red and green refrigerants.

Comparison of red and green antifreeze

To understand which antifreeze is better green or red for your car engine, you should compare these two types of fluids.

What does color mean?

In general, the color of antifreeze does not matter, there is no single standard for it. Each manufacturer assigns a specific shade of liquid to its product. But almost all manufacturers try to use identical shades for the same substance compositions so as not to confuse consumers. In the countries of the former CIS, standards are adopted for the classification car manufacturer Volkswagen.

They will be as follows:

1. The green refrigerant is usually G11. It is liquid hybrid type... Many car owners believe it is better to take an ethylene glycol based antifreeze because it meets the G11 standard. This is partly true. The green substance contains ethylene glycol, as well as inorganic additives designed to protect all metal elements of the cooling system from rust. Such antifreezes have been used for more than 20 years, the service life of the substance varies on average around 3 years. The refrigerant can be used in all types of radiator devices.
2. Antifreezes of red color, as well as of all its shades, are characterized by a carboxylate base and refer to the G12 standard. The substance contains organic additives. The main feature of such additives is that they selectively affect the steel components of the system, where a corrosion center has been fixed. It is advisable to use these antifreezes in high-speed and temperature-loaded units. The service life of the substance is up to five years. Fluids of this standard are used for primary fill opel cars, Ford, Renault, KIA, Fiat. When buying a Japanese-made refrigerant for the engine, you need to take into account the difference in designation. In Japan, the color classification is different: the red tint determines the crystallization temperature of the product, which is -30 degrees.

You will learn about the main differences between these two refrigerants from the video filmed by the Avto-Blogger channel.

Features of additives

Green antifreezes use inorganic additives, which include borates, phosphates, silicates, etc. These additives cannot resist corrosion and are considered ineffective for use in aluminum radiators. Manufacturers decided to use organic additives in the composition of red refrigerants. Their presence helps to prevent the development of corrosion. They block the hearth with rust and prevent it from spreading, which contributes to an increase in the service life of the cooling system.

If you pay attention to additives, then keep in mind that the material from which the radiator device is made is also important. For example, green refrigerants are more suitable for aluminum engines and motors made of this metal alloy. The additives present in the liquid are harmless to such devices. It is important to use red refrigerants in brass and copper units. If you do not take into account the composition of the additives, the use of antifreeze can lead to the appearance of scale and corrosion in the radiator device.

Life time

If you decide to pour a red refrigerant, then its service life is on average up to 5 years or 250 thousand kilometers. Green antifreezes begin to lose their performance and characteristics after two years of use. After this period, the liquid contaminates the lines of the cooling system, forming a sludge in them. This leads to ineffective cooling of the power unit and its possible overheating in the future.

Can I mix?

During operation, the level of the refrigerant in the tank will decrease, which is due to the presence of distillate in the composition of the substance. When the liquid heats up, it starts to come out through the valve, so it is relevant for many car owners. If you make mistakes when adding liquid, it will have serious consequences. In particular, we are talking about additives.

Mixing two refrigerants with added organic and inorganic additives will cause chemical reaction and the liquid in the system will foam. This will lead to overheating and boiling of the power unit. All the antifreeze composition useful for the radiator and engine will precipitate and disappear on the structural components protective film... This contributes to the deterioration of heat exchange in the so-called cooling jacket.

If it is necessary to replenish the refrigerant level, distillate must be added. But keep in mind that mixing antifreeze with distilled water helps to lower the temperature threshold for crystallization. For example, if the ratio of liquid to concentrate is one to one, then the refrigerant will begin to freeze not at -40, but at -15 degrees. This is especially important to consider in winter. In addition, as water is added, the amount of antifreeze will increase due to freezing.

What if mixed?

1. Drain the old refrigerant from the radiator 2. Fill in distillate or flushing agent 3. Remove deposits from the pipes 4. Fill in new antifreeze

If you have mixed two fluids of different standards with a different additive package, then the first thing to do is to replace the antifreeze in the near future and flush the cooling system.

To complete this task, do the following:

1. Wait for the motor to cool down, otherwise hot antifreeze on your skin may cause burns.
2. Substitute under drain plug on the radiator, the container is a bucket or basin.
3. Open the hole cover and wait for the spent antifreeze to leave the system.
4. Screw the plug back on.
5. Add about five liters of distilled water to the filler opening on the expansion tank. Its volume should correspond to the amount of "working off" drained from the radiator. The distillate can be diluted with citric acid in a proportion of 1 kg of the latter per 10 liters of liquid with critical deposits. Or 800 grams of acid per 10 liters of water for light to medium pollution. Please note that if you are using clean water, rinsing will take less time, since you will have to wait several hours when mixing the liquid with citric acid. Instead of the distillate, a special flushing agent can be used. The amount of time it must remain in the system depends on the manufacturer.
6. When the water is filled, start the engine. You can take a test ride or let him work on idling... Increase the speed of the power unit while squeezing the pipes of the cooling system. This will remove sediment formed by mixing green and red antifreeze. The running time of the engine when flushing with distilled water is about 15-25 minutes.
7. If the drained liquid is very dirty, there are traces of rust, deposits and scale in it, then repeat the cleaning procedure again. Flush until clean water comes out of the system. If the pipes are clogged with deposits, purge them. Replace hoses if heavily soiled.
8. Then fill in expansion tank fresh antifreeze to your engine specification. Start the engine, squeeze all lines of the cooling system. Perform a test drive and add fluid to the reservoir if necessary.

conclusions

You can fill your car with any refrigerant. But it must be borne in mind that green antifreeze is more suitable for aluminum radiatorsand red is for brass and copper devices. The main difference between green and red liquids lies in the additives, so mixing them is strictly not recommended.

A special fluid called antifreeze is used to cool the various heating elements of the car. The literal translation from English means "non-freezing". Such a liquid differs significantly from water in terms of crystallization temperature, as well as boiling point. This allows you to use it in winter timewhen freezing the liquid would damage the elements of the car in which it was located. Total meets different antifreeze: red, green, blue. What is the difference between them should be examined in more detail.

The main tasks for which the use of antifreeze is required is to ensure the continuous operation of the cooling system. Regardless of the types of antifreeze by color, this is the main purpose of its use. At the same time, the ability of such a liquid to ensure the stability of the performance of its functions in hot weather, as well as severe frosts, is considered important. This is due to the stability of the chemical composition of the substance, as well as its neutrality in relation to the metal or rubber elements in which it is used. As a result, no precipitation is formed during its operation.

The main feature providing all of the above properties of this fluid is the use of special additives. Previously, there was a clear separation, what distinguishes antifreeze in color.

So, the red color indicated the acidic composition of the substance, while the blue and green already spoke of the silicate one. Moreover, today such a gradation is not always used. In addition, antifreeze has the following properties that are required from it during operation:

1. Increased resistance to foam formation.
2. High efficiency of the used anti-corrosion additives.
3. No formation of insoluble precipitates during prolonged use of the fluid.

It is the ratio of this or that property that determines the difference in the colors of the antifreeze. Based on this, each automaker makes recommendations on the use of specific types of antifreeze in the engines of certain of its cars.

Antifreeze colors

Separately, it is worth making out what coolants are, as well as which color is better. Often there are options from the RGB group (red, green, blue), as well as their various shades, ranging from blue to blue-green antifreeze... Today, there are no specific standards that would regulate the color of such a liquid, because it itself is colorless. It all depends on the imagination of the manufacturers themselves. Why does antifreeze happen different color, is determined by the following reasons:

1. A clear difference from water, so as not to accidentally consume such a liquid. This is due to its toxicity.
2. The ability to differentiate different types... Each manufacturer produces a line of antifreezes that have different properties. The absence of the same color allows you to clearly understand what properties this or that coolant has.
3. The ability to find leaks. Due to the fact that the coolant usually has a bright color, this allows you to quickly find leaks in the cooling system.

Another variation of the difference between coolant is the marketing component. So, due to the popularity of red among people, manufacturers are trying to use it to promote products.

Color differences

Despite the lack of clear regulations, most manufacturers try to follow the unspoken standards that people are used to.

Blue

Antifreeze, which has a blue color, is considered the most common for residents of the CIS. This is due to the fact that the first silicate coolant, she is "antifreeze", was produced in the USSR in this form.

A similar situation arose so that, by changing its color, the owner of the car could determine how much the coolant had been developed, and, accordingly, had it replaced in a timely manner. A similar liquid is created from ethylene glycol diluted with water and a whole complex of inorganic additives. The maximum service life of this antifreeze is 2 years at a maximum temperature of no more than 108 degrees. The positive property of "antifreeze" is its low price.

Green

Green colorant is added to the G11 version of the coolant. The composition contains ethylene glycol, diluted with water and less active, relative to "antifreeze", inorganic inhibitors. Despite the fact that the phosphates and silicates used in this antifreeze are not as dangerous as the old Soviet versions, they are rarely used in modern power plants.

The positive qualities of such a coolant are:

1. The presence of a phosphate film that protects the unit from internal corrosion under the influence of ethylene glycol.
2. High boiling point suitable for use in engines manufactured 10 years ago.

Negative qualities are:

1. Crystallization of the created protective coating.
2. Low heat dissipation.

At their cost, such options are in one price category with "antifreeze". They are used for maintenance domestic cars, as well as used foreign cars.

Sometimes the properties of the green coolant fully correspond to the characteristics of the yellow antifreeze.

Red

This type of coolant is considered the most common. Its color varies from a pale shade to the most intense burgundy. In this case we are talking about G12 carboxylate antifreeze. Corrosion protection with such coolants occurs point-wise, without reducing the heat transfer coefficient. According to experts volkswagen, this option is considered the best solution for modern power plants. Him positive qualities are considered:

1. Lack of crystallization of the protective coating.
2. The ability to replace 1 time within 5 years.
3. Point impact.

There are also a number of disadvantages:

1. Does not eliminate existing corrosion.
2. Low efficiency in corrosion protection for radiators made of aluminum.

Can I mix

The reason is the interaction that occurs between the additives, which leads to their leveling, and, accordingly, a decrease in the useful properties of antifreeze. There are certain exceptions, but they apply to emergencies.

In total, when mixing with a coolant of category G13 occurs, this is considered acceptable, but it is the reason for a decrease in the anti-corrosion properties of the composition used. At the same time, regardless of the proportions in which the compositions are added, as a result, the effectiveness corresponds to products of a lower category. So, when mixing antifreeze G11, as well as G13, the properties of the whole mixture will have the characteristics of a lower quality of the first option.

It is recommended to mix such fluids only in extreme cases when you need to top up coolant, but there is no model of the required quality. As a result, when the opportunity arises, it is recommended to drain such a "cocktail", then flush the system and fill in a new composition.

There are no good or bad types of antifreeze today. Each of the options for the coolant, which has its own color, differs in terms of its parameters, and accordingly the scope of application. Therefore, it is important to consider the recommendations of car manufacturers when choosing suitable option Coolant.