I don't know what kind of anti-freeze is in my car, but it is a little low..... since it is summer should i just top it off with water or should i still mix it.... and does it matter what kind i put in as long as it is the same color (green or orange)?

 

anyone??

 

just get some premix or mix your own.. the average green **** should do..

 

Thanks.... i only asked because i heard someone say before it was bad to mix kinds.... guess not

 

for the street I use 25/75 antifreeze/water mix + redline water wetter..

just fill it up with water, since you most likely have a 50/50 mix

I use distilled water but you dont HAVE to..

 

i suggest 50/50 mix.
it is okay to mix brands.

prestone is a really common brand.

 

You ask a good question.

The colors are not unique. Some chemistries CAN NOT be mixed. As an example. Dexcool is an organic acid stabilized antifreeze. It is orangeish red. It cannot be mixed with silicate based (Prestone green) antifreezes, or you get gobs of goo.

My favorite is a Class 8 truck antifreeze, Fleet Charge, a low silicate, no phosphate, nitrate stabilized antifreeze, it is a purplish-red. It could be mixed with green prestone, but it would loose its low silicate properties....which is important for water pump life and to preclude silicate drop out in mixed alloy systems engines. It cannot be mixed with Dexcool.

If you don't know for sure... flush it and start over. If it is over 2 years old or 50,000 miles you could flush and fill and not feel guilty about wasting the effort.

Here is the info on my favorite Fleet Charge: http://www.fleetchargeantifree...c.htm I run this in my cast iron V8's, my small high speed and large low speed diesels, my gas 4 bangers, and an Aluminum V6.

I have a deep personal hate for Dexcool... search here on my name and dexcool for the specifics. I also am not enamored with the Prestone formulation of the last 12 or so years.

This article may help you a bit ... (or confuse you): http://popularmechanics.com/au...lant/