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My car's manual says to use the blue Honda coolant:

Always use Honda All Season Antifreeze/Coolant Type 2 [MSDS]. This coolant is pre-mixed with 50 percent antifreeze and 50 percent water. It does not require any additional mixing. If it is not available, you may use another major-brand non-silicate coolant as a temporary replacement. Make sure it is a high-quality coolant recommended for aluminum engines. However, continued use of any non- Honda coolant can result in corrosion, causing the cooling system to malfunction or fail. Have the cooling system flushed and refilled with Honda antifreeze/ coolant as soon as possible.

On the other hand, Prestone claims their green coolant is harmless:

Prestone® Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant is compatible with ANY antifreeze/ coolant – regardless of color – for use in ALL makes and models of cars and light duty trucks. This patented formula provides a high degree of performance durability and carefully balanced protection against temperature extremes and rust corrosion of all cooling system metals, including aluminum.

Who should I believe? Will it really result in corrosion if used more than temporarily?

Please provide reliable references for any claim you make. The internet is already full of opinions and hearsay about this stuff, most of which are contradictory.

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  • 1
    For the most part what the manufacturer is saying...is true. Using an anti-freeze that is not recommended will in fact lead to build up of corrosion in the coolant passages of the engine block or anywhere else it flows. BMW recommends a phosphate free coolant that reduces the chances of corrosion
    – Dude318is
    Jun 14, 2011 at 20:43

12 Answers 12

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There are silicate antifreezes, used in most domestic cars until recent years, and OAT antifreezes, used in Japanese cars because of their domestic market testing. In OAT antifreeze the silicate has been replaced with phosphates.

Domestic cars today all use OAT now, with Chrysler the last to switch. See:

http://www.sae.org/mags/aei/mater/11284

So any OAT antifreeze will work in a Honda, but don't use silicate antifreeze in any Japanese coolant system, Honda or otherwise. Evidence shows it reduces water pump life in certain Japanese import cars.

Prestone Regular or 50/50 is a silicate free OAT antifreeze. It uses phosphates to replace the silicates.

Ultimately it isn't the color but the composition that matters. It was confusing for a while, but since most of the industry went to OAT you can't go far wrong with any name brand off-the-shelf coolant. The US and Japan are on the same page in 2013.

Also from the link above: "The dye color of antifreeze has nothing to do with antifreeze formula or performance. Chrysler’s G-05 contains orange dye to distinguish it from a yellow dye antifreeze previously used. Other users of G-05 have yellow or even blue dye. However, GM DexCool, a purely organic acid type, also has orange dye, and this has been a source of service industry confusion. Fiat’s OAT, although a different formula, also has orange dye and it has been used in early production of the Dodge Dart. The new Chrysler OAT, however, will have a purple dye."

It's far more important to use distilled water, which is less than a dollar per gallon and often overlooked in this discussion. Tap water contains minerals you don't want.

So what gives Prestone the confidence to state "all makes and models?" It contains phosphates, not silicates, so it is safe to use in a Japanese car's cooling system. It can also be used in any non-Japanese car as long as North American water is used! So to support its claim Prestone merely specifies that its coolant be used in North America! Simple. See:

http://prestone.com/safety-tips-faqs

"Some European automobile manufacturers request that a phosphate-free antifreeze be used in their vehicles. This issue is related to the extremely high mineral content of the water in Europe ... in North America we do not have this type of water problem ... the question of phosphates is a non-issue here in North America. Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant is completely safe for use in both foreign and domestic vehicles."

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  • If a Chrysler specified engine coolant is labeled G-05 and and phosphate free, then wouldn't the Prestone 50/50 "all makes and models" be harmful for the Chrysler or not the correct choice because it isn't phosphate free or G-05? Aug 26, 2015 at 13:55
  • Which car specifically recommends G-05? The recent cars recommend specific Chrysler part numbers. And even if an antifreeze is phosphate free this does not imply phosphates will harm the cooling system. Phosphate antifreeze is extremely common and some manufacturers' OAT antifreeze includes it. Chrysler only admonishes not to introduce HOAT into their OAT cars in the owner's manuals I've read.
    – geoO
    Sep 13, 2015 at 1:37
11

Every manufacturer recommends their own fluids. Everybody wins because your engine gets "less corrosion" and they great great markup on those things.

A while ago I did cooling system maintenance (replace hoses, water pump, thermostat, temp sensor, radiator cap) on my wife's BMW 330i. That make/model has a lot of following and several high-quality forums with lots of people and lots of opinions. Half the people on those forums are under the impression that if the fluid doesn't have BMW written on the can, it can't touch the car. The other half (equally knowledgeable and competent people) is using Prestone. I have not read any post that suggested Prestone caused any kind of problems.

That's what I've been using in all my cars, including the BMW, and I never had any cooling system problems either. I sold my Integra with 194k and engine was still fine. Rust ate away a lot of the body.

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    The formulation of Prestone varies from product to product. In addition, Prestone has changed over the years. It isn't valuable to say that all you've used is Prestone and had not any problems. Cooling systems can have problems with OEM fluid and that wouldn't be an indictment of that fluid. You can have had problems using Prestone as well, but that might have just happened anyway. This is the problem using anecdote to answer broad questions. It requires research and not personal experience.
    – geoO
    Jun 9, 2013 at 9:55
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    @geoO: anecdote would imply that I simply told you story without any base on facts and moved on. That's not really true. 1) I really do use prestone; 2) I really did go to BMW forums to see what other people say; 3) I really never had any problems with prestone in ANY of my cars; 4) Manufacturers do have other interests in mind when they make their recommendations (my company does same things just with our products, also a fact); 5) I really did observe two groups of people (and like I said both knowledgeable that I would respect)... you clearly being in one of those groups :)
    – DXM
    Jun 9, 2013 at 16:47
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    This is a mistake everyone makes, sometimes even myself. Anecdote is your real experience but is only a single data point, like a testimonial. This itself can't generate a valid result. Internet forums are just other people's anecdotes, hearsay in fact. Even if you linked to those forum posts (which you should do if you cite them) it would still be anecdote. Ultimately, you aren't using actual independent data, which could even be from a reliable industry or mechanics organization. If you can find coolant research performed by an organization like the ASE or SAE find it and cite it.
    – geoO
    Jun 10, 2013 at 18:00
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    @geoO: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_cost -- "rational consumer will continue to search ... until the marginal cost of searching exceeds..." -- I have a job. I have a wife. I have hobbies... To me and other people, who found this answer (or forum posts) useful, using "anecdotes" is a way of reducing search costs because to me and many more others, "coolant research" is kinda pushing the limits of what would be considered rational. But clearly, others such as yourself, should simply do the research and use best coolant they can find for their cars.
    – DXM
    Jun 10, 2013 at 18:29
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    @geoO: ... and I'm not saying you are wrong. In fact I just read your post, +1 to that :) and I will be sure to use my experience of reading your facts in my future decision making process.
    – DXM
    Jun 10, 2013 at 18:33
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I don't know if it is the same in the states, but over here there are two totally incompatible types of coolant - OAT (usually red) and MEG (usually blue). Using the wrong sort can cause corrosion issues and leaks (especially using OAT in a car designed for MEG), and mixing the two results in a rather nasty sludge. However, most cars in the past decade or so have used OAT.

I can't therefore see how they can sell a coolant that claims to be compatible with ALL cars, unless things have been different over there?

Another thing to watch out for is that if your car is still under warranty, they may refuse to pay out if you have a leak and have used a non-approved fluid in the car.

I personally tend to use whichever brand my local motor-factor has in stock at the time, but always make sure it is the right type - but then all of my cars have been fairly old, and from before manufacturers started trying to insist that you used their own brand coolant!

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    USA has 3 colors. Red, Green, and Orange. The Prestone "works anywhere" is green, but is supposed to work will all of the above. No blue here. Jun 23, 2011 at 17:38
  • @BrianKnoblauch: The Honda coolant I'm talking about is blue. :)
    – endolith
    Oct 16, 2012 at 19:20
  • @BrianKnoblauch But the different coolant manufacturers' colors don't all mean the same thing anymore (see my answer above). This is the problem. You have to read the label for chemistry or best yet just use OEM coolant (keep your receipts) and distilled water, then you have nothing to worry about. At least then you don't have potential warranty issues.
    – geoO
    Feb 27, 2015 at 18:46
  • What country/continent is your "over here"? Europe, or Australia, or "other"?
    – Xen2050
    Sep 15, 2016 at 12:41
  • @Xen2050 Europe - UK to be specific.
    – Nick C
    Sep 15, 2016 at 13:44
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I have never been able to find any empirical evidence to support the various claims made by different coolant manufacturers. As far as I know, it does not exist. There are no absolutes. You will not necessarily be safe even using coolant with the brand name of your car on it. I have been an auto mechanic for 35+ years. Back in the old days (actually not that long ago) when all vehicles used GREEN ethylene glycol coolant with silicates in it, of any brand, there were very few problems. Corrosion usually happened when someone left the coolant in there a LOT longer than they were supposed to, or put tap water in the cooling system. Tap water in my area is loaded with calcium chloride, and will cause corrosion even when mixed with the proper coolant. Many people use it to "flush" their cooling systems, not realizing how much damage they are actually doing. Once corrosion starts, it is impossible to get rid of.

Everything changed with the advent of Dexcool (commonly know among mechanics as "deathcool" for it's propensity to destroy engines. This is an OAT or HOAT coolant, and is some really nasty stuff. I have seen many cooling systems destroyed by it. It plugs everything up with a brown waxy substance that nothing I know of will remove. It may be ok to use for 2 years, but GM says it can be used up to 5 years/150,000 miles. I can almost guarantee that if you do that, you will be needing a new engine. I have pulled heads on engines that had the coolant passages almost completely plugged. Usually it plugs up the radiator and causes severe overheating before reaching that point. But, I have replaced several engines that were destroyed by this stuff. I'm talking about orange Dexcool. Avoid it like the plague.

I have not seen this issue with other brands of coolant, or with the new formulation of Dexcool, which is red. But it is the orange stuff they sell in stores. Don't use it under any circumstances.

Prestone will be fine, as long as you replace it every 2 years. ALL coolant should be replaced every 2 years, regardless of brand or mileage.

It IS true that not all coolants are compatible. Basically this refers to the older green ethylene glycol type with silicates (silicates help keep the cooling system clean, they are abrasive, and scrub any rust or corrosion off the inside of the coolant passages) They have been used in coolant since the Model T. Older American water pumps never had a problem with them. I have no idea why the Japanese manufacturers won't build water pumps that are compatible with it. The problem happens when you mix silicate type coolant with OAT or HOAT type coolant. It coagulates and plugs things up.

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  • I just flushed the cooling system of a car that didn't have it's green ethlyne glycol coolant changed for seven years, until the radiator failed two years ago. I stuck an endoscope into it and saw the nastiest corrosion you could imagine. Ran vinegar and distilled water through in three times and was still getting rust out. Although the endoscope showed significant improvement. Sep 13, 2015 at 7:06
  • "I have seen many cooling systems destroyed by it." How do you know?
    – endolith
    Feb 19, 2016 at 14:44
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From FAQ section of Prestone Website:

Some European automobile manufacturers request that a phosphate-free antifreeze be used in their vehicles. This issue is related to the extremely high mineral content of the water in Europe. If you were to mix an antifreeze that contained phosphates with the type of water they have in Europe, it may produce deposits that can settle in the cooling system and promote corrosion. However, in North America we do not have this type of water problem. Typical North American coolants have contained phosphates (which is part of the corrosion inhibitor package) for many years. Therefore, the question of phosphates is a non-issue here in North America. Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant is completely safe for use in both foreign and domestic vehicles. For those consumers who would feel more comfortable using a phosphate-free antifreeze, our Prestone® LongLife® Premixed Antifreeze/Coolant and Prestone® Dex-Cool® Premixed LongLife® Antifreeze/ Coolant formula’s are phosphate, silicate, and borate free. These coolants use a special chemistry and technology that extends the life of the corrosion inhibitor package so that it lasts for five years or 240,000 kms (whichever comes first), and is safe for all cars and light trucks (old or new). Prestone® Dex-Cool® Premixed LongLife® Antifreeze/ Coolant has been approved by General Motors under their DEX-COOL® specifications and is compatible with other DEX-COOL® approved coolants. * DEX-COOL® is a registered trademark of General Motors Corporation. 

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    I find it hard to believe that they can make a generalization like that about the mineral content of water supplies across the entire continent.
    – endolith
    Oct 16, 2012 at 19:17
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    Also, isn't this only relevant when you mix it with tap water yourself?
    – endolith
    Oct 16, 2012 at 19:39
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    Mixing coolant with tap water is never a good idea. Just spend the 50 cents and get a gallon of distilled water at the store! Oct 17, 2012 at 11:05
  • Wrong, wrong, wrong. Well water in the U.S. is extremely hard. Furthermore, the mechanical design and composition of engines, especially the seals, is dependent upon the tested (and hence approved) coolant formulas. Using American phosphate-containing coolants in cars designed in Europe is risky because it is not well tested and likely to experience increased head gasket failures and other issues.
    – dhchdhd
    Jul 13, 2015 at 12:13
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I got my sister's '88 Civic with 120,000 miles in '97. It currently has 383,000 miles on it. Always starts and averages 45-47 mpg on highway (one hour 50 mile trips to work). I maintain it well. Have never flushed cooling system. Use Wal-mart green antifreeze. Change every three years. Including original water pump, car has had three. None have ever leaked, just changed them every other timing belt change. Only use distilled water. Replaced radiator once, because of a stress crack in the plastic where one of the fan shrouds attaches. Also use Wal-mart oil since I've owned it, changed every 3000 miles. All I can say for sure is that it's worked for me.

My dad rented out boats with outboard motors, during the premix 50:1 days. All Mercurys except one Johnson. Used Wal-mart two cycle water cooled oil. Never had an oil related engine failure.

None of us work for Wal-mart or have any stock in the company. The point is that corporate America is full of people that tell untruths in order to sell products (in this case, fluids) that are overpriced, yet carry ratings similar to less costly choices. If Wal-mart sold products that caused failures, would that not make news? I've never heard of a case, so I buy the least expensive I can and do routine maintenance. Even the lawn mowers work well.

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    Marketing is a synonym for "artistic lying."
    – dhchdhd
    Jul 13, 2015 at 12:15
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Just beware of using a formula containing silicates in Japanese engines, this can cause water pump seal failure. Use distilled water. Do not use “de-ionized” water, it will scavenge ions back from your engine metals causing corrosion. Most cars after 1998 that don’t have copper/soldered radiators can use Organic Acid Technology (OAT). If your car is older than that — beware, the organic acid can corrode away the solder.

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    Deionizing water is just a cheaper way of removing salt ions to approximate distilled water. The only difference between deionized and distilled is that deionized has more non-ionic contaminants like organic stuff and bacteria. I don't believe there will be any differences as you state.
    – endolith
    Jul 1, 2013 at 15:24
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    Distilled water and DI water to an engine are equivalent. DI only matters for nuclear reactors, chip fabs, bio labs, etc. but not many orders of magnitude dirtier engines.
    – dhchdhd
    Jul 12, 2015 at 17:28
  • @Barry - Distilled water doesn't have impurities in it (or at least it's not supposed to). If it actually goes through the distillation process, it should be pure water. For the purposes of engine coolant, this is what you want. Distilled water does not have minerals/sediments in it. These react with other parts of the engine and will cause issues. Saying distilled water and deionized water the same is like saying you can drink ocean water ... it's almost the same. Jul 12, 2015 at 18:18
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I have an 1985.5 Volkswagen (VW) Vanagon which has a 1.9L H4 with engine seals that are known to fair early and often with phosphate-containing coolants. The partially-redesigned 1986 2.1L engine speicifies use of phosphate-free as well to address this issue, but there was no apparent redress of this 1980-1985.5 models. I'm taking my recent cooling system maintenance back to have the unofficial but a correct coolant replaced because some stupid imported coolant amortizes to a whole lot cheaper than a head gasket job.

Conclusion: Prestone's arrogant, misinformed advice is wrong by counter-example.

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Some of you are correct and some not. With a little research you will find Prestone is also an OAT formula, same as the Dextron, and many others, most made by the same parent company. OAT is the difference you need to look out for, the colours no longer matter as the manufactures of antifreeze have started dying them all colours under the sun. The real problem is the OAT formula eats silicon, a very commonly used sealant on hoses and gaskets pre 2010. If you tear down a newer engine you will notice no silicone on anything, just rubber gaskets, unless it was a backyard fix. Older engines use silicone everywhere, and so do most mechanics.

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-1

Most answers here are wrong... whatever you do with your coolants, the last you can do is cause corrosion. All the formulas will prevent corrosion.

The issue is with mixing coolants you can "milk" or "clog" them. That happens because the chemicals they use may interfere with one another. The problem is ALWAYS caused by the DEX ones. They added new stuff to prolong the life (they started to market one coolant flush every 100.000 miles!) and that damn stabilizers is what will clog your coolant lines if you mix it with posphate and some other kinds.

If you clog your lines, the least of your worries will be corrosion! you will melt your engine much earlier than that!

So, the only sane thing to do, as most manufacuters do not even list the contents of their coolants, is to stick with the same that's in there. And do not do that by color. Color means nothing. There are several ones that do not play along and are the same color.

For example, i just bought a gallon of the autozone or prestone "goes with everything" (though they still write in small letters on the back "does not go with everything, check your manual") which is orange, just to find out my car had some chrysler golden thing in there. I don't remember the names and details as it was 6mo ago, but after a small research on bob is the oil guy forums, i found out i would clog my system if i mixed them.

The bottom line is, if you mix you risk it. the chance nowadays are small. VERY small. but it's still there.

If you love the car, write down the coolant you are using (brand and chemical contents) and use only that type. If you have no idea what's in there, flush, put new one, and WRITE down what you used. do not believe in color. Also, refuse to buy anything that does not have a list of 'ingredients'.

Now, for the performance, they are exactly the same thing. so, if you flush before, you are safe! you will NEVER damage your car if you use only one brand, whichever it is. regardless of what the manufacturer suggest. In fact, if you don't live in cold climate, you can use only distiled water and be done with it! (you just will have to top off every hour as most of it will boil and escape the pressure valve :) so don't do it ... but you will still get ZERO rust.

Now what to do if your level is low and you have to top off?

unless it's more than a gallon, and you never did it before, use distiled water. ALWAYS. only distiled water. It's the safest bet. your fluid now is 50/50 coolant and water. you are fine if you keep that mix from 30/50 to 70/50. so adding a gallon or so is totally fine!

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  • I've read all the DexCool stuff for my old Chevy Cavalier and it's all hearsay with no concrete proof of anything
    – endolith
    Jun 12, 2013 at 13:35
  • 1
    @endolith more info here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze#Traditional_inhibitors
    – gcb
    Jun 12, 2013 at 17:09
  • Yes, but that says the problem is actually the caps and recovery bottles that were introduced at the same time.
    – endolith
    Jun 12, 2013 at 19:34
-2

All this discussion and no definitive one way or another.

Obviously the auto manufacturers have there arguments and everybody else has there opinions.

If Prestone 50/50 extended life is Phosphate, Silicate, Nitrate and Borate f ee and uses demineralized water and is based on OAT and HOAT technoledgy of today, then there really isn't a problem here, is there??

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  • No, it's a fact. They're wrong because my engine is on its third reincarnation because of phosphates corroding the head gaskets.
    – dhchdhd
    Jul 12, 2015 at 17:31
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PEAK'S GLOBAL LIFETIME ANTIFREEZE IS THE WAY TO GO AND DISTILLED WATER! ONLY A FEW DOLLARS MORE PER GALLON FOR THE NEWEST FORMULA AND L I F E T I M E!

LIFETIME-UNTIL THE COOLING SYSTEM EXPERIENCES A NEED FOR A PART REPLACEMENT AND HAVE TO DRAIN THE SYSTEM.

THIS IS THE LATEST COOLANT VERSION AND YOU CAN'T FIND IS FOR SALE IN MANY AUTO STORES BECAUSE THEY WANT YOU TO KEEP BUYING THE 3 YR OR 5 YR STUFF.

NAPA HAS IT IN STOCK, WALGREENS HAS IT IN THE 50/50 MIX.

THE 5 YEAR STUFF IS TOO SIMILAR IN FORMULA TO THE DEXCOOL DEATHCOOL FOR MY COMFORT LEVEL AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT....WHEN PUT IN VEHICLES DECADES OLD OR LEFT IN TOO LONG OR IN A SYSTEM WHERE AIR INTERACTS WITH IT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM BECAME LOW.

5 YEARS FLIES BY AND YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE, WHO HAS TIME TO CHANGE COOLANT IN ALL THEIR VEHICLES EVERY 5 YEARS AND WHAT IF YOU FORGET...??! SAVE YOUR TIME AND MONEY AND GO WITH THE LIFETIME IS WHAT I'M DOING.
ALSO MARK WITH A PAINT PEN OR OTHER LABEL THE TYPE OF COOLANT YOU'VE INSTALLED SO NO ONE FORGETS OR ADDS-TOPS OFF WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE.

CHECK IT OUT AND NEVER HAVE TO LOOK BACK.

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    This doesn't answer the question at hand. Also, please refrain from using ALL CAPS when typing. You are yelling at everyone when you do. Sep 7, 2015 at 14:39
  • Seriously, who writes in all caps...
    – wild.coast
    Jun 23, 2020 at 23:47

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