just a quick question....

My (new) girlfriends car has read coolant in it, why is her coolant red?

all the coolants I've seen have been green so this is making me ummm wonder.....umm... I don't know..

she doesnt know anything about cars, she pays $40 bucks to get her oil done for c****s sakes!!! she said it had a problem with running hot so she took it somewhere, now it runs fine.

thanks

oh yeah and if it matters its a 2001 T Solara ( i know i know )

 

most never cars use the pinkish coolant and not the green anymore. i forgot what the difference is

 

tell ur girlfriend to come by my house and ill check out her coolant for her. ill also check her oil too.... all this for free

 

umm...yeah.

 

Red coolant colors are usually linked to Dexa-Cool type coolants, which are not favored for use in Honda engines (donno about Toyota). But I have run across a non-DexaCool colant that has a red color instead of the usual green. The only was to know for sure it to return to the shop and ask which coolant type they used in her car.

I've been experimenting with Shell Rotella ELC coolant, it is red in color. No silicates or phosphates, to help keep the water pump seals intact.
**edit: like Big Moose will will say a few posts down, this Rotella is Class 8 diesel truck spec coolant. It is just as good as Honda oem coolant but only costs $6.00 for pre-mixed gallons. Plus you can get it at Walmart. There is one at every corner (next to a McD's) in my area. **




[Modified by SLPR, 6:32 AM 7/23/2002]

 

DAMN!!! I just changed my coolant this weekend and I used some Prestone that said it is "DEX-COOL APPROVED" . I was a lil' surprised by the red color ,but thought "antifreeze is antifeeze". What effect will this have on my car and should I remove it ASAP??!!

 

they do not mix well you will need to draina nd flush and refill with the correct type and amount of coolant

 

Orangeish Red is probably DexCool.....stuff I personally Despise...search for my previous posts.

Real Red is probably a low silicate, no phosphate, nitrate and nitrite stabilized Class 8 truck antifreeze. Like Fleet Charge. It's SCA Enhanced (Supplemental Coolant Additive) Its the good stuff I use the Real Red stuff (Fleet Charge) in my Detroit Iron (GM Vortec's) My Diesels, my tractors.....etc. I like it.

Regards,
BigMoose

 

I believe the red coolant suppose to be more enviornmental friendly.

 

use HONDA antifreeze in a HONDA engine.

it is formulated for washers/pumps and metals in the engine.

 

 

Dex-Cool is an Ethylene Glycol based high performance coolant that contains unique anti-corrosion stuff, which is different from anything else on the market. Dexcool is vastly superior to conventional coolants, which use silicates, phosphates, borates, nitrites (or nitrates, or both?? I forget) and amine additives to eliminate corrosion. These additives are abrasive to water pump seals, and silicates are especially unstable and drop out of solution and form a gel after time. All of these conventional inhibitors deplete after a short time, which is why conventional coolant must be changed every year.
The unique corrosion inhibitor technology in Dexcool is based on the use of two organic acids, which are synergistic and combine to form carboxylates, this **** is called Carboxylate Technology. The corrosion inhibitors used in Dex-Cool deplete very slowly thus eliminating the need for traditional additives, or frequent change intervals.

I always thought you can't mix the green and red together at all, but, in fact, you can indeed mix them with no ill effects. However, if there is more than 10% of conventional coolant in the system this will reduce the concentration of the Carboxylate such that conventional coolants change intervals must be followed. In other words, if you mix it, you can't leave it in for 100,000 miles or 6 years, but instead should treat a mix just like conventional coolant and change it every year until the concentration of Dexcool is over 90%.

As far as using it in your Honda, Since Dexcool is based on a superior Ethylene Glycol base, and all auto manufacturers specify Ethylene Glycol based coolant as recommended for their cooling systems, Dexcool can be used without problems in any cooling system, ESPECIALLY your honda



[Modified by builthatch, 11:06 PM 7/23/2002]

 

So are you saying RedLine's additive that fights corrosion is abrasive to honda metal(s) and seals?

 

Does it contain phosphates or silicates??? I'm pretty sure water wetter does not have them. It mearly helps to break the surface tension of water, thus providing more heast carrying capacity. Originally it was red coolants that was asked about not red coolant addatives.

 

the stuff in the toyota, they sell it at the dealership. It is a fruit puch color....and it worked great in my mini me. Ran way cooler than the Honda coolant, at least in my car

 

is this the same type they use in euros as well, ie. jettas, golf, most audi and vw's.

seen it in my friends jetta gt. just a question on the side.

 

so whats the conclusion, I am getting ready for a motor/ head swap and would like to know,
the winner is
red stuuf,
pink stuuf
green stuff,
Just curious!!

 

"we got some OJ, some purple stuff, hey, we've got Dex Delight!" dexcool is the shiz, go with that..