antifreeze: ok to change brand? Car has original antifreeze, but it is 9 years old. Do I need to put in the same kind? It is a red color, but I know that most antifreeze available at the car parts places is green.
If I change the antifreeze in my car, do I have to use the same brand (original) that is in it now?
Ralfco is on the right track. The red color is different than the more comon green, and it is very different. I have a Land Rover Discovery that also requires the red. It also has the ability to crystalize when there is a leak to stop it from becoming a bigger leak. Havoline is a brand that makes the coolant you need and it is available at any parts store. Read the label, you will have to mix it with water in a specific concentration.
If I change the antifreeze in my car, do I have to use the same brand (original) that is in it now?
no you can use a different one, theyre almost all the same
as long as you thoroughly drain the radiator and block then you can put another brand of antifreeze in the car..
Yeah you can mix it up. Its antifreeze and won't affect the engine at all. Go for it.
A lot depends on the engine you have in your car. Some cars have aluminum components to keep the car lighter and therefore more efficient, and some antifreeze may corrode aluminum parts.
Check your owner's manual, or ask at the dealership for your make and model of car.
No.
It doesn't matter in most cases, but some vehicles require a certain type. You should call the auto parts store, or Google your car, and what type of antifreeze it needs. Better yet, look at your owner's manual if you still have it.
Ok this is from experience. If you are going to change the anitfreeze coolant from your vehicle and have not done it ever. Then you should flush the system or radiator. Also you need to check or flush the heater core. After that use the brand of coolant that the color is GREEN. OKay? Stay away from the orange or red kind. They tend to eat up the gaskets and the thermostats tend to fail. Also check to see if your water pump shows any kinds of leaks around it. Check the tension of the upper and lower water hose.
you don,t need to use what,s in it. if you flush out the cooling system then you can use the green stuff. myself i use prestone all the time.
It sounds to me like you have a Toyota. (you haven't mentioned what kind of car this is). It is extremely important not to mix coolants with different colors or from different manufacturers. Any one who tells you that coolant is universal is under-educated (read stupid) on this subject. Coolants of different colors mixed together will inevitably cause gelling problems. Right now, GM is involved in a pricey lawsuit against their Dex-Cool brand because the chemicals in it have been shown to eat away at gaskets ( and intake manifolds) and cause premature engine failure. The typical %26quot;green%26quot; coolant SHOULD BE OUTLAWED and NOT be used in anything!!!!! In the old days when American engines where made of 100% cast iron, the %26quot;green%26quot; stuff was acceptable (but still not all that good). It caused premature gasket, radiator fin, water pump and heater core wear and failure. The newer colored coolants have been designed with special features that extend service life and prevent corrosive build-up and water pump bearing failure. Red coolant usually means that it is formulated to be silicate free and phosphorus free. Other colored coolants have even more properties. Foreign car anti-freeze is TOTALLY different (and better). If you are in doubt, have your system flushed out and use Mercedes Benz (gold) coolant. If you are driving a foreign car, USE THEIR coolant!! The MB coolant will work just fine in ANY car and will last for over 100,000 miles. Doing so will prevent the future use of flushing out the cooling system AT ALL!!!!
