Quite a bit actually – which is why it’s so crucial to ensure you’re using the correct type for your specific make and model. What’s The Difference Between Green And Orange Antifreeze? If it feels gritty, as if there are bits of sand in it, then it’s dirty, and the system needs to be flushed. You can also rub a small amount between your fingers. This means that not only is your engine running low on lubricant, but its coolant is unable to do its job as well, which is a deadly combination. If it’s milky colored, there’s likely oil in it, which indicates it’s leaking from somewhere. This is a good sign it’s time to flush the system out, and add some new coolant. If it’s rust-colored, it suggests the rust inhibitor has become ineffective.

How long? Green for about 3-years or 36,000 miles, and orange for 5-years or 150,000 miles.Ī good rule of thumb is to inspect it at each oil change. Thankfully, both green and orange antifreeze last a while. What Should I Know About Maintaining Engine Coolant?Īs we mentioned earlier, your engine will suffer if you run out of coolant. If you’re going to use a different antifreeze, you’ll need to flush your cooling system first, which carries a cost of about $100. If it fails, you’re looking at a replacement cost of as much as $750. Take your water pump, for instance, which is in charge of pumping the coolant throughout the system. Without proper cooling, various components may overheat, leading to failure. Since your engine needs fluid rather than gel, it is unable to effectively cycle it through the system. When orange and green antifreeze mix, there’s likely to be a chemical reaction that causes it to thicken into a gel-like substance. Can I Mix Different Engine Coolant Types? Meaning so long as you remember to refill it, your engine should not experience any issues. Thankfully, orange antifreeze should last as long as 5-years. When this happens, oxygen may invade the system, creating a buildup that can clog and damage internal components. The cons of orange coolant manifest when it begins to run low. DexCool is a type of coolant that uses a mix of different Organic Acid Technologies (OAT) to help to help inhibit the buildup of rust and corrosion. Due to this change, GM introduced DexCool. This transition from steel and copper to aluminum and nylon started back in the 90s. Meaning they will protect metallic parts without interfering with non-metallic ones. The great thing about these is that they only affect metal surfaces. One of these acids is carboxylates, which inhibit the buildup of corrosion. Orange AntifreezeĪnd then we have orange antifreeze, which also defends against corrosion but instead of being geared towards older cars with lots of metal, it’s made for newer cars with more aluminum and nylon parts in the cooling system. Propylene glycol and ethylene glycol are what keeps your engine from overheating. Silicones, on the other hand, work as a metal sealant, protecting them from different chemicals, moisture, and general wear.

Phosphates are derived from phosphoric acid and help soften water and remove oil and grease. IAT is a mixture of various compounds such as phosphates and silicones, with either propylene glycol or ethylene glycol. To protect these metallic parts from rust and corrosion, Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) gets added to the mix. Green engine coolants are designed for use in older cars (think pre-2000), ones that contain a lot of steel and copper components in the cooling system. What Is The Deal With Antifreeze Color? Green Antifreeze Speaking of color, let’s review the difference between orange and green. Both of these cases would leave your engine exposed to total failure.Īs for color, this mostly stems from dyes added to aid in identifying its composition. Can water be used as a coolant by itself? Yes, however, it would freeze in cold climates, and evaporate in warm climates. It’s usually combined in a mixture that’s 50% water and 50% coolant. It not only ensures your engine stays within a safe operating range (coolant), but it also keeps it from freezing (antifreeze). The role of coolant and antifreeze is summed up nicely in either name since it does precisely that.

Coolant for car