WHAT COLOUR SHOULD MY ANTIFREEZE BE?

[rapport25]

Hi, just changed antifreeze this w end gave it a bloody good clean out with plenty of water through the top rad hose expansion bottle thermostat housing which i also changed the thermostat. I used geninue peugeot antifreeze as it was no cheaper than anywhere else. The only problem is i have put in a blue/ green colour and my original was a red/orange colour. Does it matter what colour i use? As i have red somwhere hdi's must use the red. But that does not seem right to me help anyone?

[steve_earwig]

Did you see this thread? Mine's bile yellow, Smelliot's is Martian blood bath green, Welly's looks like finest mud... I don't think it really matters though, so long as it's safe with alloy engine bits (I don't suppose you can buy anything else these days) and there's enough of the stuff in there.

[teamster1975]

An interesting read here!

[rapport25]

Hi Steve, no i missed that one just having a laugh at it now Mine to was like wellys a muddy colour. So im assuming it was an orange antifreeze from the start. Mine has been flushed through with the hose pipe so it was back to just clear water.

Interesting reading teamster so im guessing my pug is ok to use either as long as its flushed clean. The one i have now will last 3 years as appose to 5 like the orange then?. I guess that will bew fine for now then

[steve_earwig]

According to Teamster's link yes. Very informative site too, I really didn't know the red stuff is supposed to last longer, I always change the stuff every couple of years anyway (or sooner, if I'm running a "total loss" cooling system in my current car )

So, any other new things I should know about?

[ianst28]

tbh it doesn't really matter what colour it is as long as you have some in it's when you top up with antifreeze that it all gets messy some of the new ones like the comma ones (green and red) if you mix them with the old fasioned blue stuff they react and clot like blood in your rad if your going to top up and can't get the same colour then look for prestone it will mix with anything with no problems

[djheath]

Yeah, I think the general rule is:

Blue or Green - old style glycol stuff. G11 - change every 2 years. Cannot be mixed with G12.
Red/pink/slightly orange - newer stuff - G12 - can be changed every 5 years. Cant be mixed with G12+ but not G11
Purple - even newer stuff - G12+ - can be changed every 5 years, can mix with other antifreezes.

Thats all I know about them!