Even experienced drivers sometimes cannot accurately answer the question - is it possible to mix antifreezes of different colors? There is an opinion that this should not be done categorically. But automotive experts are not so categorical and give their recommendations on this issue. In case of urgent need, you can mix some antifreeze with the same characteristics. Do not mix dissimilar antifreezes!
Multi-colored coloring of antifreeze is necessary for visual recognition of the brand of the substance. When working with a transparent liquid, the risk of making a mistake increases many times.
Antifreeze can be mixed in one standard
Standard antifreezes, even from different manufacturers, can be mixed as needed. With colors, the situation is more complicated. Even in the same standard, coolants can have different colors.
So, antifreeze is blue or red, Antifreezes of the G11 brand can be either blue or green. Multi-colored antifreeze can be mixed with antifreeze. Multi-colored versions of G11 can also be mixed with each other, but not with fluids from other brands. So, G13 is available in yellow and purple versions, they can also be mixed, but subject to the G13 standard.
Mixing options for different standards
As for antifreeze of different standards, even if they are made by the same manufacturer and have the same color. Small quantities, about half a liter, as they say, do not make the difference. When we talk about mixing antifreeze, we mean significant volumes.
The originally filled antifreeze G11 (green) can be mixed with red G12, since they have the same base (ethylene glycol) and the same additive (carboxylic acid), albeit in different quantities. But, in this case, anti-corrosion protection may already suffer.
If you fill in the reverse order, add G11 to G12, the cooling will work, but with a significant decrease in heat dissipation functions.
Difference in additives and base
The coolant G13 is based on propylene glycol and therefore has a different composition than G11 and G12 (ethylene glycol). Therefore, yellow and purple antifreezes should not be mixed with red and green. How will dissimilar alcohols interact? unknown. There is also a significant difference in the composition of the additives.
The following coolants of the following colors must never be mixed:
· yellow green;
· yellow Red;
Purple - green;
· Violet - red.
Attention! Antifreezes of different colors can be mixed within the same standard. This is a temporary measure and you cannot constantly use a mixture of various antifreezes! This will damage the vehicle's cooling system.
