Random question about Ford coolant "colours " ?

deejaybee

Hi all, hope this isnt a crazy question..

Anyway, i bought a 69 reg Ford Transit Courier van ( the small one ) a few months ago ( Its a 1.0 Petrol Ecoboost )

Doing the usual under bonnet checks, noticed that the ORANGE coloured coolant needed a top up soon ( about halfway between MIN & MAX )

Went to local garage which is a Suzuki & Ford main dealer, definitely said i wanted the Orange fluid, they kindly took a tenner off me and supplied me with small carton of it...

When i went to top up, the new fluid looked Green, so i didnt use it, checked the manual which specifically said NOT to mix different colours...

So i went back today to dealer, Parts bloke couldnt find any alternative to the fluid i had purchased, he got one of the mechanics to have a look.... mechanic told me that i had bought the correct stuff, and that when it comes out it will be Orange ?!?! and it is the only one that Ford supplies... So i took it away again, must admit it still looks Green to me, and i am still wary of using it.

So i thought i would come on here and see if any of you clued-up folks could reassure me, or point me in the right direction ?

Ta

greyteam1959

If it is half way between min & max it does not need topping up.
Perhaps the green coloured product goes orange when added to water ??

deejaybee

hi greyteam1959 - yep i know it dosnt need topping up yet, was just getting it in advance.

I will add the green fluid to some water in a plastic bottle etc, and see what happens.

Ibrahim5

There are green anti freezes. I thought the general advice was that you never mix different colours.

BOWFER

This is one of those 'advice v practice' things.
Advice is maybe not to mix brands/colours, but in practice if you're only topping it up is it going to do any harm?
Nope.
TBH I wish they all made the damn stuff a dark colour so could see it through the expansion tanks easier.

deejaybee

All sorted !   I added the new fluid to some water in a plastic bottle and it went Orange ( as the tech said it would ).

Re being able to mix Green & Orange - see below.

Inorganic Additive Technology (Green Antifreeze)

Green antifreeze relays on Inorganic Additive Technology. This technology is designed for cars made before the year 2000. In the past older cars had radiators that contain steel and cooper Inorganic Additive Technology is needed to prevent corrosion. Inorganic Additive Technology contains no elements of carbon, which can be corrosive to older model cars.

Organic Acid Technology (Orange Antifreeze)

Orange antifreeze utilizes Organic Acid Technology to help protect your engine from temperature extremes. Being organic, this type of coolant does contain elements of carbon. But for newer model cars, this is completely fine. Since newer vehicles have radiators made from nylon and aluminum, they won’t become damaged by carbon.

What Can Happen If You Mix Them?

If you combine green antifreeze with orange antifreeze, bad things can happen to your car. When mixed, these coolants form a gel-like substance that can clog up your cooling system. As a result of being clogged, your car may run hot, which can cause engine damage. Depending on the situation, your engine may even need to be replaced. As you probably already figured out, an engine replacement could set you back thousands of dollars.

In addition to clogging up your cooling system, damage to the radiator can occur in older cars. If orange coolant is introduced to cars made before 2000, chances are corrosion will take place.

What Should You Do If You Have Already Mixed Them?

If you have already made the mistake of mixing orange and green antifreeze, you need to take action fast. The longer the mixture is allowed to remain in your cooling system, the more damage is done. The first step that should be taken is contacting a professional auto mechanic. They will be able to help you determine what you should do about your situation.

Most mechanics will recommend that you have your car towed to their location. This will prevent the mixture from damaging your vehicle further. Driving it to the auto repair shop is not recommended. Some mechanics that offer mobile services will come to your location.

Once your mechanic has had a chance to look at your car, they will likely flush out the cooling system. They will make sure that all the mixture has been removed from your vehicle before going forward. Next, they will check to see if any damage has occurred. Your cooling pump and radiator may need to be replaced.

When all repairs have been completed, the mechanic will add the proper coolant to your car.