The car uses a lot of process fluids. All of them periodically require replacement. When buying coolant, many are concerned about the question of how red antifreeze differs from green. In today's article, we will consider the differences, advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
Characteristic
Any antifreeze is designed to remove heat during engine operation. In winter, this fluid (namely, a certain part of it), taking heat from the motor, provides heating to the passenger compartment. In the summer, the coolant enters the radiator.
As for the composition, all coolants are composed of ethylene glycol. The exception is the 13th group, but more about it later. Foreign antifreezes are a concentrate where the percentage of ethylene glycol reaches 95 percent. Everything else is additives and
distilled water. The domestic "Tosol" is arranged on a similar principle, but here the percentage of water content is much higher (up to 40 percent).
Varieties
According to the European standard, all coolants are divided into several groups:
The last group is purple antifreeze. The difference between red and green antifreeze is the absence of ethylene glycol. It uses absolutely harmless, environmentally friendly, propylene glycol. Purple antifreeze has appeared recently and is rarely found in the domestic market. Therefore, further we will consider the differences between red antifreeze and green, that is, the 11th and 12th group.
Color
It is worth noting that initially both coolants are transparent in color.
It is already painted by the manufacturer. These color differences were introduced by Volkswagen. It is believed that the 12th group and red antifreeze are more technologically advanced than green. G12 is applied in Europe more often than the 11th.
Temperature
An ethylene glycol solution, unlike plain water, does not freeze immediately. The process takes place gradually, in several stages. First, small crystals form in the liquid. Their concentration increases with decreasing temperature.
And this happens until the antifreeze turns into a semblance of semolina in consistency. However, unlike water, which turns into ice already at "zero", the coolant crystallizes at temperatures below minus 50 degrees Celsius. If you reduce this figure by another 10 degrees, then only then the antifreeze completely hardens. But if the water expands during freezing and literally breaks the pipes and the expansion tank, this liquid does not change its volume at any negative temperatures. It will only be thicker or thinner. According to studies, antifreeze of the 11th and 12th groups expands by only 0.7 percent of the total. Green and red have no differences in the freezing temperature threshold. In this case, they are completely identical.
Additives
This is how red antifreeze differs from green. If we consider the 11th group, here manufacturers use exclusively silicate additives, designed to reduce the formation of rust. But as practice shows, they are not able to protect the metal parts of the cooling system from corrosion. The properties of these additives are similar to the domestic Tosol. The only advantage of this coolant is its good heat transfer. What is the difference between red antifreeze and green? The latter does not form a thin film on the interiors of the channels of the system.
Due to this, there is no delay in the exchange and transfer of heat. As for red antifreeze, carboxylic acid additives are used in its composition. They envelop the interior of the cooling system and prevent rust from further developing. However, due to the thin film, heat transfer is impaired. This is the main disadvantage of these fluids.
Radiators
The material of which the car cooling radiator is made is important. Green antifreeze is suitable for aluminum structures and products from its alloy. The additives contained in it are completely harmless to such an environment. As for the red antifreeze, it targets copper and brass radiators. Many car owners ignore this fact and pour other liquids into them. This can have a negative effect on them, including the formation of scale and rust. The same goes for aluminum radiators. The use of red antifreeze in them is extremely undesirable.
Additive Features
Inorganic compounds are used in green coolant. It can be phosphates and borates. They are practically inactive in front of the centers of corrosion. As for the more "technological", red analogues, in their composition are additives based on organic acids. They prevent the further development of rust, prolonging the life of SOD elements.
Life time
Another factor that answers the question “how is red antifreeze different from green”. The first has a service life of up to five years. At the same time, green antifreeze and its domestic counterpart, Tosol, can be used in the system for no more than two years.
Further, the mixture forms a precipitate and begins to contaminate the channels of the cooling system. Checking the condition of the fluid is very simple. It should be oily to the touch and not have pungent odors. Otherwise, the fluid must be replaced, as there is a possibility of engine overheating.
TCL antifreeze green and red - what is the difference?
This is a Japanese manufacturer that has been manufacturing coolants since 1949. Despite great competition, the manufacturer is confidently holding on to the global market. Translated from Japanese, this abbreviation stands for Tanikawa Chemical Laboratory. It is supplied in plastic canisters with a volume of 2 to 18 liters. Depending on the concentration of distilled water, the freezing temperature is from -15 to -50 degrees Celsius. The fluid resource is 4 years or 80 thousand kilometers. This company produces green and red antifreeze. How do these fluids differ? The red compound is intended for cars in the domestic market. These are Toyota and Daihatsu. Green is used for all other brands. The high quality of antifreeze allows it to maintain a given temperature control of the engine at any speed. However, in Russia this manufacturer is little known. One of the few representative offices of TCL is located in Vladivostok.
Is it possible to mix
Over time, the fluid level in the expansion tank drops. This is due to the presence of distilled water in the composition. When heated, it exits through the valve. You can’t ride at a low level. Is it possible to mix red and green antifreeze? The difference at first glance between them is minimal, but such an action leads to irreversible processes. As we said earlier, there may be organic or inorganic additives. If you connect them, the liquid may foam. The motor will boil. The protective film will also disappear, the composition will precipitate. All this affects the heat transfer in the cooling jacket.
If you need to add fluid, use distilled water. However, remember that when it is added, the temperature threshold of crystallization decreases. So, if 50 percent of distilled water is used in a liquid, this indicator drops from -40 to -15 degrees Celsius. This must be taken into account during the winter period. Also, due to the use of water, the expansion volume during freezing increases.
note
When choosing a new antifreeze, consider the fact that not all companies adhere to the European standard in the manufacture of liquids. For example, some Japanese brands produce antifreeze 12 groups and paint it in a green tint.
In this case, the service life is up to five years. Also, the color can be raspberry, blue, and even yellow. All this is done so that during breakdown the driver can determine the place of the leak. Therefore, when buying, pay special attention not to the color, but to the group to which this or that model belongs. And “topping up” always use distilled water.
Conclusion
So, we found out how red antifreeze differs from green. As you can see, the difference is in the use of additives. The basis for antifreeze is the same. This is ethylene glycol. And in what proportion to dilute it with water, the manufacturer decides. Most of it is contained in Tosol (up to 40 percent), while foreign brands sell 95 percent concentrate.