Different antifreeze coolant fluids

[blazzingbrandon]

I was checking my coolant and it was low. So I put in some green coolant fluid, but the car ha some brown fluid in it. Does it matter? and if it does, should I flush it out, or let it run out by itself? Also is it easier to do it by yourself, or better to just bring to jiffy lube or something?

[Brian R.]

You're putting your engine at risk when you bring it to Jiffy Lube.

With a cold engine, remove the radiator cap and open the drain plugs on the block and the radiator. Close everything and fill with 50:50 antifreeze:distilled water. Empty reservoir and fill that with the same.

Keep radiator cap off and idle engine until the level in the radiator drops and add the coolant to the radiator until the engine is at normal operating temperature and no more coolant is needed. Cap the radiator and let the engine cool down. Fill the reservoir as needed.

Keep an eye on it and your temperature gauge for a couple of days afterward.

[blazzingbrandon]

I heard if you fill it with water, it would freeze in the winter time, is this true?

[blazzingbrandon]

And whats wrong with jiffylube, i get my oil changed there all the time? is it better to bring it to the dealer?

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by blazzingbrandon

I heard if you fill it with water, it would freeze in the winter time, is this true?

If your winter ever gets below 20 F, your block may freeze with water in it. Also, you will get severe corrosion problems in your block, even if you never get that cold. You need the additives in antifreeze to protect your engine and cooling system from corrosion.

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by blazzingbrandon

And whats wrong with jiffylube, i get my oil changed there all the time? is it better to bring it to the dealer?

Anything is better than Jiffy Lube. They guys who work there know nothing about automobiles.

I have had serious problems with them over the years and I have finally given up on them. They show no sign of improving. Only the fact that I anticipate problems and watch them like a hawk has prevented them from ruining two of my engines.

A true story:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...0&goto=2178450

[Doug Rodrigues]

Rule of thumb: If your radiator has green looking stuff in it, add green antifreeze/water. If it has orange looking stuff in it, add orange color antifreeze/water. If you mix equal parts of green and orange antifreeze and drive around for a while, I've been told that the stuff can turn to Jello!

Re: Oil change "mechanics." NOT! When I worked as a dealership mechanic years ago, I could relate a few horror stories about Quicky type oil change businesses really screwing-up an engine. A couple of examples....Over torquing the oil drain on a Volkswagen type 4. That warps the crankcase! Or how about driving off and then wondering why the engine is making strange loud noises and the oil pressure light is on? Somebody forgot to put oil back into the engine!

[Brian R.]

Even if mixing the two types of antifreeze is not harmful, your protection to freezing would be unpredictable. You don't want to find out the hard way that you don't have adequate protection.

[Dallas4Runner]

The Toyota dealer told me that if you use anything other than "Toyota" antifreeze($17/gal) you risk excessive corrosion of your cooling system. He said the green fluids have silicone and silicates that could eventually damage the radiator and cause massive leakage.

[Brian R.]

Don't believe everything someone tells you when they stand to make money if you follow their advice.

[Doug Rodrigues]

Personally, I wouldn't use any anti-freeze that mentions, "Will clean your cooling system." Such anti-freeze contains those "silicates," i.e. fine sand. Such silicates will cause wear on the water pump shaft. Otherwise, I used the "green stuff" in the '91 4-runner that I owned for 12 years and never had a problem.

[Brian R.]

The major difference between the two types of antifreeze is that the orange one is made from propylene glycol, not ethylene glycol which is poisonous to animals and apparently tastes great to them.