Than red antifreeze differs from green antioxidant - we figure out the difference

The car uses a variety of process fluids. All of them periodically require replacement. When buying a coolant, many are concerned about the question of how the red antifreeze differs from green. In today's article, we will examine the differences, advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Characteristic

Any antifreeze is designed to remove heat when the engine is running. In winter, this fluid (namely, its specific part), selecting heat from the motor, provides heating cabin. In the summer, the coolant enters the radiator. As for the composition, all cooling liquids consist of ethylene glycol. The exception is the 13th group, but about it later. Foreign antifreezes are a concentrate where the percentage of ethylene glycol is 95 percent. All the rest is additives and distilled water. By a similar principle, the domestic "Tosol" is arranged, but here the percentage of water content is much higher (up to 40 percent).

Varieties

According to the European standard, all cooling fluids are divided into several groups:

• G11.
• G12.
• G13.

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. Appeared violet antifreeze recently and rarely found in the domestic market. Therefore, further we will consider the differences between red antifreeze and green, that is, the 11th and 12th groups.

Colour

It is worth noting that initially both coolants have a transparent color. It is painted by the manufacturer himself. These color differences were introduced by Volkswagen. It is believed that the 12th group and the red antifreeze are more technologically advanced than the green one. Used G12 in Europe more often than the 11th.

Temperature

Ethylene glycol solution, unlike simple water, does not freeze right away. 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 consistency into a kind of semolina porridge. However, unlike water, which turns into ice already at "zero", the cooling liquid crystallizes at a temperature below minus 50 degrees Celsius. If you reduce this figure by another 10 degrees, then only the antifreeze completely hardens. But if the water expands during freezing and literally tears the branch pipes and expansion tank, this liquid does not change its volume at any negative temperatures. It will only be thicker or more liquid. According to the research, antifreeze of the 11th and 12th groups is expanding only 0.7 percent of the total volume. There are no any differences in the temperature threshold of freezing in green and red compositions. In this case, they are completely identical.

Additives

That's how the red antifreeze differs from the green one. 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 a good heat transfer. What is the difference between a red antifreeze and a green one? The latter does not form a thin film on the interior of the channels of the system. Thanks to this, there is no delay in the exchange and heat release. As for the red antifreeze, it uses additives with carboxylic acid. They envelop the insides of the cooling system and do not allow rust to further develop. However, due to the thin film, heat transfer deteriorates. This is the main disadvantage of these liquids.

Radiators

Of great importance is the material from which the radiator of the car is made. Green antifreeze is suitable for aluminum structures and products from its alloy. The additives contained in it are absolutely harmless for such an environment. As for the red antifreeze, it is intended for copper and brass radiators. Many car owners ignore this fact and pour other liquids into them. This can have a negative impact on them, down to the formation of scale and rust. The same applies to aluminum radiators. The use of a red antifreeze in them is highly undesirable.

Features of additives

In the green coolant, inorganic compounds are used. It can be phosphates and borates. They are practically inactive before foci of corrosion. As for more "technological", red analogs, they contain 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 "what is the difference between a red antifreeze and a green one?" 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. Check the condition of the liquid is very simple. It should be oily to the touch and not have sharp odors. Otherwise, the fluid must be replaced, since there is a possibility of engine overheating.

Antifreeze TCL green and red - what is different?

It is a Japanese manufacturer that has been manufacturing cooling fluids since 1949. Despite the great competition, the manufacturer is confidently holding onto the world market. Translated from Japanese, this abbreviation stands for Tanikawa Chemical Laboratory. It is supplied in plastic cans with a volume of 2 to 18 liters. Depending on the concentration of distilled water, the freezing point is from -15 to -50 degrees Celsius. The fluid resource is 4 years or 80 thousand kilometers of run. This company produces green and red antifreeze. What is the difference between these fluids? Red composition is intended for cars of the domestic market. This is Toyota and Daihatsu. Green is used for all other brands. The high quality of the antifreeze allows it to maintain the specified temperature regime 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.

Can I mix

Over time, the liquid level in the surge tank drops. This is due to the presence of distilled water in the composition. It is heated through the valve when heated. You can not ride at a low level. Can I mix antifreeze red and green? The difference at first glance between them is minimal, but such an action leads to irreversible processes. As we said earlier, there can be organic or inorganic additives. If they are connected, the liquid can foam. The motor will boil at the same time. Also, the protective film will disappear, the composition will precipitate. All this worsens the heat exchange in the cooling jacket. If it is necessary to top up the liquid, distilled water should be used. 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 figure falls from -40 to -15 degrees Celsius. This must be taken into account in the winter period. Also, due to the use of water, the expansion volume increases with freezing.

note

When choosing a new antifreeze, consider the fact that not all companies adhere to the European standard for the manufacture of liquids. For example, some Japanese brands produce antifreeze group 12 and paint it in a green tint. The service life is up to five years. Also the color can be crimson, blue, and even yellow. All this is done so that in case of breakdown the driver can determine the place of leakage. 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 figured out how the red antifreeze differs from the green one. As you can see, the difference lies in the use of additives. The basis for antifreezes is the same. This is ethylene glycol. And in what proportion it is diluted with water, the manufacturer decides. Most of it is contained in "Tosola" (up to 40 percent), while foreign brands sell 95 percent concentrate.