HOAT (Hybrid Organic Acid Technology) is commonly used in vehicles from the 1990s onwards. It is often orange or pink, and should not be mixed with IAT coolant. OAT (Organic Acid Technology) is typically found in more modern coolant systems. Forlife is an IAT coolant, although it is red in colour, and can be used in all coolant systems designed to use IAT. This is the traditional coolant that is used by most classic vehicles. IAT (Inorganic Acid Technology) coolant contains either ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, and is generally green or blue in colour. There are 3 main types of engine coolant/antifreeze: The Editorial department is independent of ’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.Frequently Asked Questions What are the differences between coolants, and is Forlife suitable for my vehicle? What do IAT, OAT and HOAT mean? In line with ’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot because the cooling system operates under pressure and the coolant temperature will be more than 200 degrees.Ĭars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. The reservoir will have markings that show whether the coolant level is low. Coolant should be added to the cooling system overflow reservoir when the engine is cold. Parts stores sell containers of straight antifreeze and ones that are premixed with 50% water, so that’s another detail to check.Īdding small amounts of straight antifreeze to top off the cooling system won’t upset the cooling and boiling protection, but the best practice is to mix it with the appropriate amount of water. Consult your owner’s manual to determine the type that is needed and read labels closely before buying. Safety Implicationsĭo-it-yourselfers who want to top off or replace their coolant should shop carefully to make sure they are buying the right blend for their vehicle. Information on which antifreeze to use should be in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. Among the different types of chemistry are inorganic acid technology, organic acid technology and a hybrid of the two. Flushing the cooling systems and putting in fresh coolant used to be a regular maintenance item, but many current vehicles can go 100,000 miles before a flush is needed or never require new coolant.Īntifreeze comes in different colors, such as green, orange and pink, among others, and in different chemical formulas that are designed for specific vehicles. How Is Antifreeze Different?Īntifreeze is different in that it contains corrosion inhibitors to prevent rust that can damage the radiator, water pump and other cooling system parts. When a vehicle’s heater is being used, some coolant gets diverted to the heater core the coolant warms the heater core, and the fan blows air warmed by the core into the interior. When the engine is running it gets pumped through passageways in the engine to absorb heat and then goes back through the radiator, where it is cooled by fresh air before circulating through the engine again. When the engine is off, coolant resides in the radiator. The freezing point of antifreeze alone is zero, but a 50-50 mix with water lowers the freezing point to minus 35 and raises the boiling point to 223 or higher. Using straight antifreeze won’t provide more protection against freezing. Overheating can warp engine parts, and liquid expands when it freezes, so that can crack engine blocks and other parts. Water alone has neither the cooling ability nor the protection against freezing that engines require because it boils at 212 degrees and freezes at 32, plus it can rust cooling system parts. The 50-50 blend provides sufficient cooling for engines that operate at more than 200 degrees and prevents freezing in temperatures of 30 degrees below zero or lower. Related: Is Your Check-Engine Light On? 5 of the Most Common CausesĬoolant typically consists of a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water, though it can contain as much as much as 70% antifreeze for extreme cold temperatures. Antifreeze is made of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol and is the basic ingredient, but it has to be mixed with water to create coolant, which is the cocktail you will find in the cooling systems of all “water-cooled” vehicles. Though coolant and antifreeze are often used interchangeably, they aren’t the same.
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