For most, colour is usually just a preference – we all know that red makes everything automatically cooler.
But does it have any meaning when it comes to your coolant? And if so, what does it mean for you? Does it indicate anything about the chemical make-up of the coolant, or is it just a brand-to-brand thing?
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Understanding the key requirements in your coolant is key to ensuring the optimal health of your engine’s cooling system year in, year out.
Mike Hudson is a technical specialist in all things chemicals at Atmus Filtration, and has plenty of expertise when it comes to all things coolant.
There’s plenty of misconceptions around the colouration of coolant and its basic properties, which he clears up for us.
“Put simply, the role of coolant is to transfer extreme heat generated by the engine, to the radiator, where it is expelled into the environment,” Mike explains.
“It is then circulated by the water pump, back to the engine, to repeat the same process over and over again.
“Coolant also carries with it additives, which prevent corrosion and cavitation of the engine and its components, as well as providing anti-boil and antifreeze properties.”
In short, Mike says the colour of the coolant really does not matter so much these days, it’s more about the quality of the ingredients. It wasn’t always that way.
Historically, coolant colour was an indicator of the corrosion preventation chemicals chosen by each manufacturer. Pre-2000 coolants that used Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT), were usually green or blue and needing changing every 24 months or so.
Post-2000 saw the introduction of Organic Acid Technology (OAT) coolants, that were red or orange in colour and made use of new technologies to protect the engine for longer, lasting up to 160,000km before needing a change.
As time went on, coolant manufacturers took the best of the old school and the new and produced hybrid IAT / OAT blends which have been given the acronymn HAT.
While the coolants themselves have evolved to meet the many and varied engines on offer, so has the technology around their use.
Mike says the FleetguardMAP coolant analysis program, which is a brand under the Atmus Filtration umbrella, aims to work alongside customers’ existing predictive and preventative maintenance platforms to identify any issues with coolant.
The tests in the program can be used to identify early signs of overheating and corrosion, changes in the coolant chemistry (protection), coolant/additive dilution, contamination by fuel/oil or hard water (calcium/magnesium), radiator fluxes, chlorides, and sulphate.
Each piece of equipment tested will have its fluid analysis history and recommendations retained for future reference.
“Nowadays, we can’t rely on the colour to tell us about a coolant’s chemistry or performance. Coolant marketers and OEMs have adopted their own tiered approach to differentiate their products, meaning the colour can no longer be used by consumer’s as a guideline to a coolant’s properties,” Mike says.
“For example, PGPlus, a hybrid, lifetime coolant with 250,000km or 4000 hours service intervals, is dark blue in colour.
“And PGPlatinum, an organic, lifetime coolant which requires no service thanks to its superior additive package, is red in colour.”
One of the benefits of the FleetguardMAP analysis program is its flexibility, able to be adjusted to meet the needs of each customer.
Each piece of equipment which is tested will have its fluid analysis history and recommendations retained for future reference.
The program functions through interaction between the customer and Fleetguard. Fleetguard customers send coolant samples to inhouse FleetguardMAP experts who perform quality control tests on the samples to provide a comprehensive and easy to interpret report in a timely manner, usually 3-4 business days.
“Every brand of coolant requires different levels of maintenance,” Mike says.
“Some coolants, such as Fleetguard’s OAT coolant, PGPlatinum, are lifetime, meaning they do not need to be changed over the life of the engine, others, such as those containing nitrite used for cavitation protection, require additive top-ups, as the additives within them deplete over time. Fleetguard’s PGPlus is an example of this.
“While some coolants are compatible with others, changing the chemical balance in the cooling system can be detrimental to its performance, so mixing different types of coolant is not recommended.
“All coolants, no matter the type, colour or brand, should be tested twice a year to ensure they are maintaining the correct chemical composition.”
Using high quality coolant is the safest option for protecting your assets.
“If a quality coolant is not used, the risks to the engine include overheating, corrosion and cavitation,” Mike says.
“These problems can cause critical damage, leading to expensive repairs and equipment downtime, which consequently leads to lost revenue for your business.”
For the greatest benefits when it comes to reducing total cost of ownership for heavy vehicle, Mike suggests using Fleetguard’s engine coolants, PG Platinum and PGPlus.
He says PG Platinum and PGPlus are particularly popular among heavy vehicle owners for their silicone-friendly chemical structure.
PG Platinum and PGPlus are devoid of 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EH), which can cause silicone hoses, seals and gaskets to lose their flexibility and elasticity, leading to coolant leaks.
“First and foremost, choose a good quality coolant from a reputable brand and check that it has been tested to, and meets, a heavy-duty coolant standard,” Mike says.
“One such internationally recognised standard is the ASTM D6210, and coolants that meet OEM standards are even better.
“In terms of the coolant’s properties, it should have good heat transfer abilities and a higher boiling point and lower freezing point than water.
“It should also prevent corrosion and erosion, resist foaming, be compatible with cooling system component materials, be compatible with hard water, resist sedimentation, and be chemically stable.
“Other considerations include the life of the coolant and its maintenance requirements.”
Find out more at www.atmus.com
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