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mixing coolant

  • 02-05-2012 5:40pm
    #1
    sean1141
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,088 ✭✭✭


    What happens when you mix two different colour coolants? eg red and blue..


Comments

  • #2
    Onwardandupwar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 130 ✭✭Onwardandupwar


    sean1141 wrote: »
    What happens when you mix two different colour coolants? eg red and blue..


    You get purple coolent.....


  • #3
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,626 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Results are unpredictable but if your car is under any kind of warranty it will probably invalidate it.

    Usual comment is not to mix the colours.


  • #4
    challengemaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,930 ✭✭✭✭challengemaster


    http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/263790-Antifreeze-Experiment-amp-Testing


  • #5
    sean1141
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,088 ✭✭✭sean1141


    I know not to mix them I would like to know what happens if they are mixed..


  • #6
    MugMugs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,875 ✭✭✭✭MugMugs


    Onwardandupwar wrote: »
    sean1141 wrote: »
    What happens when you mix two different colour coolants? eg red and blue..


    You get purple coolent.....

    Aren't you "in the trade" ?


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  • #7
    Onwardandupwar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 130 ✭✭Onwardandupwar


    MugMugs wrote: »
    Onwardandupwar wrote: »
    sean1141 wrote: »
    What happens when you mix two different colour coolants? eg red and blue..


    You get purple coolent.....

    Aren't you "in the trade" ?


    That is correct the two different colour coolents have a higher freezing point and different property's in them. So if u have a vw which takes red collect and u put in blue coolent it will cause problems among all coolent seals and the pumps amongst other things and it's the same the other way around.

    It's like when the say a engine takes 5w 30
    You don't put 10w 40 in it because the oils caracteristics are different and don't agree with certain parts. Does that answer it for u


  • #8
    dgt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,985 ✭✭✭✭dgt


    sean1141 wrote: »
    What happens when you mix two different colour coolants? eg red and blue..

    You get something not quite as good as the other...

    Don't do it


  • #9
    Ninap
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 545 ✭✭✭Ninap


    I've mixed them in the past. Does it make that much difference? Like adding a wee bit of the wrong grade oil?


  • #10
    fasttalkerchat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,652 ✭✭✭fasttalkerchat


    Its hard to know if you don't know which coolants are in there. If you can't see any sludge its probably ok. Better to empty and refil to be safe.


  • #11
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    The coolant colour does not always tell you exactly its application. Some manufacturers use certain colours, and some after market suppliers use different colours. Different markets also use different colours. So its the ingredients and type of coolant, rather the simply the colour that matter.

    Just like oils, certain manufacturers specify specific additives for their coolant, so again, this should be checked when buying as you could have two bottles of red coolant but one could be a certain manufacturer spec and the other may not.


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  • #12
    sean1141
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,088 ✭✭✭sean1141


    MugMugs wrote: »
    Aren't you "in the trade" ?
    Me??


    I suspect the coolant was mixed in my car at some stage.. it is a dark colour now. Either that or there is oil mixing in with it:(


  • #13
    pcardin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,194 ✭✭✭pcardin


    it always been advised not to mix them. Either use pink one or blue one but don't mix them, that's what they say.
    It's not always that easy if you just need to topup coolant level cause very often coolant in the car has a colour that is not really pink nor blue and by the look could be either of them. Easiest way (but dearest ) is just flush the system and use one or other. Worst case I seen to happen when both colours get mixed is when collant turns into some kind of poridge look-a-like substance. It happened to my wife's Alfa. Flushed the system and filled with pink one and everything was ok afterwards.


  • #14
    101sean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,884 ✭✭✭101sean


    I'd heard that about mixing OAT and glycol based coolants, never seen it happen though.

    OAT coolant, usually red (but not always and can look yellow/green diluted!) is used by a lot of manufacturers as it has a life of 5 years so there's less warranty cost, it's a lot more expensive though. Cheaper glycol based coolants need changing every 1-3 years and are usually yellow/blue/green.

    In case anyone isn't aware, glycol coolant is highly poisonous to animals so if you slop a load on the deck, don't let your dog lick it up. Some have bittering agents added but it's actually banned in some countries.


  • #15
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Supposedly there is issues but I just go with whatever I find down the garage and never had a problem.


  • #16
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    biko wrote: »
    Supposedly there is issues but I just go with whatever I find down the garage and never had a problem.


    That's brave considering that the wrong type of coolant can cause damage depending on the type of car you have.


  • #17
    fasttalkerchat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,652 ✭✭✭fasttalkerchat


    biko wrote: »
    Supposedly there is issues but I just go with whatever I find down the garage and never had a problem.

    You mean that you go with any coolant that claims to be compatible with your car or you just lift any coolant?


  • #18
    slimjimmc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,786 ✭✭✭slimjimmc


    sean1141 wrote: »
    Me??


    I suspect the coolant was mixed in my car at some stage.. it is a dark colour now. Either that or there is oil mixing in with it:(

    or sludge / rust from previous neglect possibly?


  • #19
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Nissan doctor wrote: »
    That's brave considering that the wrong type of coolant can cause damage depending on the type of car you have.
    fasttalkerchat wrote: »
    You mean that you go with any coolant that claims to be compatible with your car or you just lift any coolant?
    I just go with anything phosphate free.


  • #20
    sean1141
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,088 ✭✭✭sean1141


    slimjimmc wrote: »
    or sludge / rust from previous neglect possibly?

    or that ford fit a stupid dark bottle to the car and the coolant looks black in the evening and its really dark red


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