Red vs Green antifreeze.

[grfnkl]

Here's a question... I just got my thermostat replace about a week ago, suddenly it dawned on me i never looked under the hood, cuz i like to check to see what has been touched or not touched by my mechanic... I went and checked the level of antifreeze when i noticed that he put the green antifreeze. Anyone who has had the red antifreeze knows how thick it can get with residue, by the two mixing could this cause problems later? Also anyone else have there overflow tank on the newer 99+ G/A's all clouded up with that crap from the red antifreeze cuz i can't even see how much i have in and how much i need.

[Hoags]

All I can tell you is that I have seen the green color antifreeze as one of the long life antifreezes. it uued to be only the red/orange color was the long life stuff but I recently bought a couple of gallons of green long life. There are also new types that can be mixed you have to look at the labels I have seen "can be used with any kind of antifreeze". I would hope you mechanic was intelligent enough to put the correct type in when he topped it off, If not you may want to question his abilities as a qualified mechanic...lol.

[Knifeblade]

Yeah, the red a/f is for certain systems that cannot use the standard green a/f. Most GM's after 96 want the red stuff. Prestone does have a multi-purpose a/f out now, that is safe for the red a/f sustems.

Re the clouding in your recovery tank, drain it, it just a hose to disconnect. Pull it, a small bracket with a couple screws/bolts. Tape the hose outlet, fill the reservoir with some good degreaser or other cleaner, let it sit for an hour, then get a brush or just wrap a towel around the end of long-bladed screwdriver.

Shake it up really good for a minute or so, then start brushing or wiping the insides out, drain the cleaner and rinse rinse rinse the tank out. Repeat if necessary.

[justin0717]

i was told that the two shouldnt be mixed. The green makes red gunk up faster than normal, and cloggs everything. Although iv never seen it happen, many people have told me its not a good idea to mix them. That is if its the old green stuff, not the kind that compatible.

[Knifeblade]

Agreed with with justin on the OLD green mixed with new RED. They do NOT mix!!!!!!!!!!

My '96 has to use the Red type stuff, safe for the new [back then in '96 or so] aluminum composite radiators. However, I have been using the new Prestone, operative, new, that is safe for all sytems, red and green, and np.