Mixing antifreeze?! Is it bad?

Lambchop · 17-11-2008, 12:35 PM

I just went along the rd to the motor factors to get antifreeze for the focus to top up.

Guy asks me what colour and i was like

Phoned a friend who says i need the pink

So if i'd used the blue stuff i had at home and it mixed with red would it cause a problem with different inhibitors etc etc?

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Kverna · 17-11-2008, 12:37 PM

Yes. If you mixed alot you will need too flush your system. Soon you will get some kind of foam in your headertank, and it may turn into jello

BM08 · 17-11-2008, 12:38 PM

My dads escort uses pink, my BMW on the other hand cant use that, ive got to use BMW spec stuff which is pale green

paul16v · 17-11-2008, 12:41 PM

Mixing it can be bad, drinking it can be alot worse

Slevin Kelevra · 17-11-2008, 12:44 PM

AFAIK anti freeze is anit freeze is it not??

never had any problem with mixing different colours or makes.

Lambchop · 17-11-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slevin Kelevra

AFAIK anti freeze is anit freeze is it not??

never had any problem with mixing different colours or makes.

looks liek thats not the case at the mo! surely they dont do blue green or pink so folk can choose their preference

euan say the maxo is away?

Slevin Kelevra · 17-11-2008, 12:56 PM

he didint say mate, hopefully it did a job for you!

im only talking from experience mate. never paid any attention to what anti freeze i put in my car whether it be from halfords or the local garage or out euans shed!!

best bet would be to walk into halfords and compare what it says on the back of two different bottles.

AlexF · 17-11-2008, 03:09 PM

red/pink etc - Organic Acid Technology

blue/green etc - Glycol Ethelene

The two do not mix - they attach each other and turn into a brown sludge that blocks the system - then you overhead and damage the engine.

Alex

pete mcrash · 17-11-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexF

red/pink etc - Organic Acid Technology

blue/green etc - Glycol Ethelene

The two do not mix - they attach each other and turn into a brown sludge that blocks the system - then you overhead and damage the engine.

Alex

.....good answer.........

Lambchop · 17-11-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexF

red/pink etc - Organic Acid Technology

blue/green etc - Glycol Ethelene

The two do not mix - they attach each other and turn into a brown sludge that blocks the system - then you overhead and damage the engine.

Alex

aha great answer thanks! i wouldn't have known that

BM08 · 17-11-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexF

red/pink etc - Organic Acid Technology

blue/green etc - Glycol Ethelene

The two do not mix - they attach each other and turn into a brown sludge that blocks the system - then you overhead and damage the engine.

Alex

Heres another for you, why do cars with the same/similar engine need one or the other? why cant we all run petrol engines on the same?

AlexF · 17-11-2008, 03:24 PM

The red stuff literally eats into the metal work and forms a protective layer. So the engine needs to be designed to work with it. The advantage is that the life is about 5 years compared to the older green stuff that lasts 2-3 years at best.

Alex

dojj · 17-11-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexF

The red stuff literally eats into the metal work and forms a protective layer. So the engine needs to be designed to work with it. The advantage is that the life is about 5 years compared to the older green stuff that lasts 2-3 years at best.

Alex

you learn something new everyday

i've got pink stuff in the mondeo, should it still be changed every few years then or CAN it last upto 5 years?

pete mcrash · 17-11-2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dojj

you learn something new everyday

i've got pink stuff in the mondeo, should it still be changed every few years then or CAN it last upto 5 years?

..........service ur car every year....regardless

Csm · 17-11-2008, 03:57 PM

Yep ive seen exspansion tanks full of jelly due to folk mixing anti-freeze etc

Even seen windscreen washer bottles with jelly with just mixing the wash additive

Make sure system is properly flushed through with water before putting fresh coolant in

ECOS95 · 17-11-2008, 04:12 PM

I'm sure the Ford stuff now lasts 10yrs providing its not been watered down. I'd go with what ever the hand book says to use & just replace the whole lot unless your able to check the antifreeze is still up to scratch.

AlexF · 17-11-2008, 04:43 PM

Coolant every 3 years

Brake fuild every 2 years

Oil every year (more if you do more miles obviously)

job done!

orion_crazy_carl · 17-11-2008, 05:07 PM

wow,never knew tht,

BM08 · 17-11-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orion_crazy_carl

wow,never knew tht,

How many other people "dont know that" and fck up there coolant system

dojj · 17-11-2008, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexF

Coolant every 3 years

Brake fuild every 2 years

Oil every year (more if you do more miles obviously)

job done!

i used to get everything done for free from around the corner

now they'v gone i've got to start forking out my own money

still, kwik fit for oil, brake fluids and tryes, another guy for next to nothing cheap service work

ttaylora · 15-02-2010, 01:41 PM

Okay...But, what if we've drained the green, the flushed the system with plain water, and then put the red stuff in? Will it still gel?

ttaylora · 15-02-2010, 01:48 PM

Also, is there any way to clean out an installed heater core? We think the people that owned this car before us didn't know a thing about maintenance and may have mixed red and green before we got to it. Is it too late to do anything about it. Or should we go ahead and get a pro to flush it the right way?

**caz** · 15-02-2010, 01:50 PM

i didn't know this either :s the water in my header tank looks a bit brown to me but have a feeling its due to rust .... will need to flush that all out when i get a chance

x

zetec-Sam · 15-02-2010, 02:17 PM

Just don't do what the stupid fool did when I was at work and stick washer fluid in the coolant, in a big merc thing. She came up to me and went 'I did a bo bo'

SteveB · 15-02-2010, 02:19 PM

Blue - 2 years
Green - 3 years
Red - 5 years

Change intervals on the bottles in front of me.

Steve

17-11-2008, 12:37 PM	#2
Kverna Virgin-popper Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (1) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Norway Posts: 1,202 Rep Power: 6	Yes. If you mixed alot you will need too flush your system. Soon you will get some kind of foam in your headertank, and it may turn into jello __________________

17-11-2008, 12:41 PM	#4
paul16v Monte 087 Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hartlepool Posts: 3,654 Rep Power: 11	Mixing it can be bad, drinking it can be alot worse __________________

17-11-2008, 03:09 PM	#8
AlexF 10K+ Poster!! Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Newbury Posts: 13,127 Rep Power: 22	red/pink etc - Organic Acid Technology blue/green etc - Glycol Ethelene The two do not mix - they attach each other and turn into a brown sludge that blocks the system - then you overhead and damage the engine. Alex __________________ "Judging by the car you have chosen, you are a motorist of a special breed, and you are probably no novice when it comes to automobiles." . . . 928 S4 Owner's Manual 1987

17-11-2008, 03:24 PM	#12
AlexF 10K+ Poster!! Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Newbury Posts: 13,127 Rep Power: 22	The red stuff literally eats into the metal work and forms a protective layer. So the engine needs to be designed to work with it. The advantage is that the life is about 5 years compared to the older green stuff that lasts 2-3 years at best. Alex __________________ "Judging by the car you have chosen, you are a motorist of a special breed, and you are probably no novice when it comes to automobiles." . . . 928 S4 Owner's Manual 1987

17-11-2008, 03:57 PM	#15
Csm PassionFord Post Whore!! Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: East Lothian in Bonnie Scotland Posts: 5,367 Rep Power: 12	Yep ive seen exspansion tanks full of jelly due to folk mixing anti-freeze etc Even seen windscreen washer bottles with jelly with just mixing the wash additive Make sure system is properly flushed through with water before putting fresh coolant in __________________ 306 GTI 6

17-11-2008, 12:38 PM	#3
BM08 Professional Waffler Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: May 2004 Location: west midlands Posts: 25,368 Rep Power: 33	My dads escort uses pink, my BMW on the other hand cant use that, ive got to use BMW spec stuff which is pale green

17-11-2008, 12:44 PM	#5
Slevin Kelevra Too many posts.. I need a life!! Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 522 Rep Power: 4	AFAIK anti freeze is anit freeze is it not?? never had any problem with mixing different colours or makes.

17-11-2008, 12:56 PM	#7
Slevin Kelevra Too many posts.. I need a life!! Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 522 Rep Power: 4	he didint say mate, hopefully it did a job for you! im only talking from experience mate. never paid any attention to what anti freeze i put in my car whether it be from halfords or the local garage or out euans shed!! best bet would be to walk into halfords and compare what it says on the back of two different bottles.

17-11-2008, 04:12 PM	#16
ECOS95 Advanced PassionFord User Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Berks Posts: 1,951 Rep Power: 9	I'm sure the Ford stuff now lasts 10yrs providing its not been watered down. I'd go with what ever the hand book says to use & just replace the whole lot unless your able to check the antifreeze is still up to scratch.

17-11-2008, 04:43 PM	#17
AlexF 10K+ Poster!! Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Newbury Posts: 13,127 Rep Power: 22	Coolant every 3 years Brake fuild every 2 years Oil every year (more if you do more miles obviously) job done! __________________ "Judging by the car you have chosen, you are a motorist of a special breed, and you are probably no novice when it comes to automobiles." . . . 928 S4 Owner's Manual 1987

15-02-2010, 01:41 PM	#21
ttaylora Virgin Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe NC Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Okay...But, what if we've drained the green, the flushed the system with plain water, and then put the red stuff in? Will it still gel?

15-02-2010, 01:48 PM	#22
ttaylora Virgin Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe NC Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Also, is there any way to clean out an installed heater core? We think the people that owned this car before us didn't know a thing about maintenance and may have mixed red and green before we got to it. Is it too late to do anything about it. Or should we go ahead and get a pro to flush it the right way?

15-02-2010, 01:50 PM	#23
caz PassionFord Post Whore!! Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chelmsford, Essex Posts: 7,042 Rep Power: 10	i didn't know this either :s the water in my header tank looks a bit brown to me but have a feeling its due to rust .... will need to flush that all out when i get a chance x __________________ member of the Daytime pf talk bollocks and random shite club #69 XBOX 360 Gamertag - KindaCrazyCaz

15-02-2010, 02:17 PM	#24
zetec-Sam neeeeeeeeooowmmmm Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (2) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Laannndaaaannnn Posts: 4,227 Rep Power: 7	Just don't do what the stupid fool did when I was at work and stick washer fluid in the coolant, in a big merc thing. She came up to me and went 'I did a bo bo'

15-02-2010, 02:19 PM	#25
SteveB Alloy wheel whore.... Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (1) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Stevenage, HertFORDshire.... Posts: 11,886 Rep Power: 20	Blue - 2 years Green - 3 years Red - 5 years Change intervals on the bottles in front of me. Steve __________________ www.focusrsparts.co.uk

15-02-2010, 02:19 PM
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