The Different Colors of Cooling Fluid

Are you seeing fluid under your vehicle and unsure what it is? Learn how it could be a cooling fluid leak by determining the fluid’s color.

Transcript

Have you noticed fluid under your vehicle?

That looks like a coolant leak.

But are you confused, because it’s red in color? You can be fooled because coolant comes in different colors now, orange, red, green, blue, yellow, or pink. Sounds like a rainbow depending on the product used for your vehicle.

Hi, I’m Nancy at Kneble’s Auto Service Center.

Before I explain why coolant comes in a variety of colors, like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and of course, subscribe to our YouTube channel, so you can get this tip and other automotive pointers.

Gone are the days when green was the only color for coolant. Inorganic acid technology, or IAT, cooling contained phosphates and silicates to help prevent corrosion.

Only lasting around two years was typical in the mid-90s.

And that color of the coolant was green.

Today’s technology has allowed coolant to have different properties lending itself to different colors. With the newer vehicles, there is organic acid technology, or OAT, which doesn’t contain silicates or phosphates. This chemical compound provides protection against higher temperatures for those aluminum block engines.

And they typically come in red, orange, yellow, or even purple in color, with a life for about five years.

There was also a hybrid organic acid technology or HOAT. This is a mixture of both the IAT and the OAT, hence a hybrid coolant, which could be orange or yellow in color. And that’s commonly used by Chrysler and Ford vehicles.

Since high-bred and electrical vehicles have a cooling system designed for the battery pack, check the manufacturer’s recommendation for their specific coolant needed.

Before putting coolant in your vehicle, always check the manufacturer’s recommendation to determine the coolant of choice.

Do not mix coolant.

That could cause damage to the cooling system.

Also, refer to the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule to determine when your coolant should be flushed. Refer to my video on understanding a coolant flush, or my video on the importance of maintenance schedule.

Thank you for watching.

And remember, feel free to schedule an appointment online or call us at (609) 625-3286.

We are located here at 5473 Somers Point Road in Mays landing, next to, of course, Freddy J’s Bar & Kitchen. Remember to watch a new video every Wednesday at 12:30.

I’ll see you here.