Mixing Antifreeze | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

Sun 2 Oct 2005 16:21

Mixing Antifreeze - Yoby

Have decided to top up the antifreeze on my Mondeo (2001 new shape) - the stuff in there was a dirty orange colour - I have topped up with some Blucol which is obviously not the same colour. Is this ok or should I have flushed the old out first? My understanding (possibly naive!) is that anti-freeze is pretty much the same whatever colour it is.

Any advice? Many thanks Y.

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Sun 2 Oct 2005 16:38

Mixing Antifreeze - oldgit

I am worried that yours was a 'dirty orange' rather than a clear liquid, although perhaps after many thousands of miles some murkiness is to be expected. Again I would have thought it better to wash the whole lot out and refill with fresh material.

Chemically, good quality Antifreeze consists of Ethylene Glycol only, together with small percentages of essential additives to ward off corrosion etc and those necessary to make the Antifreeze 'safe' with Aluminium engines, where corrosion is more of a problem. Also, various dyes/colorants are added for safety, leak-tracing and product branding.

There are obviously strict specifications laid down compared to several decades ago, when Antifreeze was only used during the Winter months! The material now is such that it is left in permanently in our highly efficient, pressurised cooling systems where it helps in cooling efficiency and protects the system from the effects of corrosion. However, like brake fluid, it is recommended that the Antifreeze be changed from time to time.

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Sun 2 Oct 2005 16:53

Mixing Antifreeze - Manatee

Read FAQ #34.

I tried to get the correct, manufacturer branded antifreeze for my Honda (it's orange). The dealer's response was "Oh we don't use that - it's really expensive and we haven't any in stock. Do you want this blue stuff?". They had never heard of silicate-free etc. and claimed never to have had any problems as a result...

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Sun 2 Oct 2005 17:52

Mixing Antifreeze - henry k

Have decided to top up the antifreeze on my Mondeo (2001 new shape) - the stuff in there was a dirty orange colour - I have topped up with some Blucol which is obviously not the same colour. Is this ok or should I have flushed the old out first? My understanding (possibly naive!) is that anti-freeze is pretty much the same whatever colour it is.

Any advice? Many thanks Y.

>>
I would flush it out. I would not be happy with the mix.
The Orange stuff is supposed to have a 10 year life and is NOT the same as bluecol. I would stay with the recommendation from Ford.
There are previous threads covering this subject in great detail.
I too would be concerned why the old stuff was dirty. IMO this needs investigating / monitoring.

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Sun 2 Oct 2005 21:31

Mixing Antifreeze - Ian D

As has been said don't mix them.

If you do your engine probably won't freeze but it might prematurely corrode as the corrosion inhibitors lose their effectiveness when mixed.

Stick with the colour antifreeze that was in there, even if it means paying a few quid extra for antifreeze from the main dealer.

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Sun 2 Oct 2005 23:34

Mixing Antifreeze - henry k

Stick with the colour antifreeze that was in there, even if

it means paying a few quid extra for antifreeze from the

main dealer.

Just beware that the colour of recommended antifreeze may not be the same as what was originally used so check it out carefully.

IIRC Charles supplied the following info in Feb 04

For many years, since the demise of Methanol based antifreeze that was traditionally only added just before winter, blue/green or yellow Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) has been the mainstay of the coolant market. However Ford vehicles since 08/98 have been filled with coolant combining Monoethylene glycol with Organic Additive Technology (OAT) corrosion inhibitors.

The two types of coolant should not be mixed. Vehicles filled with MEG will have coolant coloured blue, green or yellow. MEG with OAT additives will have coolant coloured Orange (Ford) or red.

I hope this helps

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Mon 3 Oct 2005 00:01

Mixing Antifreeze - Yoby

Thanks for the advice - yes perhaps a flush would be a good idea - I am not sure whether it has ever had one, even though it has been through the Service schedule - like a few other things .... I have found that tasks like this sometimes get overlooked.

Thanks again - Y.

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Mon 3 Oct 2005 08:20

Mixing Antifreeze - Collos25

Why not just have it tested to see what temp protction it is giving before you mess around changing it.

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Mon 3 Oct 2005 08:42

Mixing Antifreeze - Armitage Shanks {p}

It might still be giving teperature protection but doesn't any colour change indicate failure of the anti-corrosion element of the liquid?