One of the new types is “organic acid technology,” or OAT. It’s orange. General Motors pioneered this chemistry starting with 1996 models in the U.S. and using the name Dex-Cool.
What does orange coolant mean?
The orange coolants are organic acid technologies (OAT). These were created for newer vehicles that had more nylon and aluminum parts in them. OAT coolants use organic acids in order to prevent corrosion. Some people believe that they can mix the two.
Is orange antifreeze good?
As we mentioned earlier, your engine will suffer if you run out of coolant. Thankfully, both green and orange antifreeze last a while. How long? Green for about 3-years or 36,000 miles, and orange for 5-years or 150,000 miles.
Is all orange antifreeze the same?
Is all orange antifreeze Dex cool? The Colors of Coolant What color is Dex-Cool®?” It’s true, coolant liquid comes in different colors, most commonly green (orange for Dex-Cool®). Each color is a unique formula that should not be mixed.
Is orange antifreeze better than green?
While green coolant is often thought of as traditional or conventional and the color orange is associated with the newer long-life products, there are no hard-and-fast color rules when it comes to engine coolants. All will help keep the cooling system from both overheating and freezing.
Is all orange coolant Dexcool?
Is Motorcraft Orange the Same as Dexcool? Dexcool coolants differ from Motorcraft Orange in a few ways. Motorcraft Orange has an ethylene glycol level of 40-50%, while Dexcool has a concentration of 30-60%.
Does it matter what color antifreeze you use?
The truth is, color is not a reliable predictor for what type of coolant you have. For example, OAT coolants are usually orange, yellow, red or purple.
How long does orange coolant last?
Coolant manufacturers updated the formula to combat corrosion in new materials and changed the color to orange. While OAT antifreeze is designed to last much longer than IAT antifreeze, it’s still a good idea to have your orange coolant checked about every 50,000 miles.
Can you switch from orange to green coolant?
Can I mix green coolant with orange coolant? This is one of those questions usually asked after the fact, and usually engine damage has already occurred. The green and orange coolants do not mix. When mixed together they form a gel-like substance that stops coolant flow, and consequently, the engine overheats.
What happens if you use the wrong color antifreeze?
It’s important to note that the type of coolant you should use can’t accurately be identified by color. Using the wrong coolant can lead to corrosion and other damages to the radiator, water pump, radiator hoses, cylinder gasket, and more.
Is orange antifreeze toxic?
“Ethylene glycol itself is not toxic, but when it is metabolized in the body, it becomes severely toxic to the kidneys,” she says. “It causes some of the most severe kidney damage that we see.”
What color is universal antifreeze?
Traditional North American “green” antifreeze, the original “universal” formula that everybody used until the introduction of today’s extended-life coolants.
What replaces Motorcraft orange antifreeze?
Alternatives to the Motorcraft orange antifreeze, Focus ST spec WSS-M97B44-D2 that are safe to use. Bottom line is Prestone DexCool® is a safe and readily available alternative to Motorcraft. Other alternatives are certainly available (e.g., Zerex, Peak, etc.)
Can you mix different brands of orange coolant?
The short answer is that you can mix different coolant brands and mixtures as long as they are the same type of coolant. The color doesn’t matter as much since it’s just a dye.
