blue anti-freeze
#1
02-06-17, 02:29 PM
blue anti-freeze
I finally got around to popping the hood on the 2016 Nissan Altima my wife bought a couple of weeks before Christmas. I noticed that the coolant is blue, looks just like windshield washer fluid but it's in the overflow jug for the radiator. While I don't expect to need to add any, has anyone seen this and know what's compatible with it?
#6
02-06-17, 04:27 PM
Group Moderator
I was shocked to see pink in my wife's Lexus. I noticed pretty pink candy on the garage floor. Got looking and there was a slight leak at a hose connection. Up to that point it never occurred to me that there could be anything other than green.
#9
02-07-17, 10:22 AM
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you guys may not like it but those coolants are chemically different based on metallurgy in modern engines AND gaskets. stick with the recommended stuff and don't switch to the green "crap"
#10
02-07-17, 01:25 PM
Colour
The colour is not as good an indicator as in the past where specific colours were specific formulations. Generally blue used to mean a G-05 coolant, being a HOAT chemistry.
There is different chemistry for different engines.
Blue has often been used by BMW, more recently Mercedes who used to be a pale yellow.
So you need to see what the OEM specification is, and either buy from the dealer or do some search to find the cross reference to Zerex, which is widely available and has a formula for pretty much every type of OEM chemistry. I think your will be the "Asian formula", but you should confirm.
Most types can be mixed without (obvious) problems. It is really the Dexcool type that is unique and will cause problems if mixed, problems being head gasket failure in some instances and such. But all the other chemistries, while not designed to be mixed, and no one will want to suggest mixing is ok, will probably be ok. More important is to stick with one type for the life of the car, as the chemistry can embed in the hoses and a change in chemistry can have unknowable implications even if thoroughly flushed.
There is different chemistry for different engines.
Blue has often been used by BMW, more recently Mercedes who used to be a pale yellow.
So you need to see what the OEM specification is, and either buy from the dealer or do some search to find the cross reference to Zerex, which is widely available and has a formula for pretty much every type of OEM chemistry. I think your will be the "Asian formula", but you should confirm.
Most types can be mixed without (obvious) problems. It is really the Dexcool type that is unique and will cause problems if mixed, problems being head gasket failure in some instances and such. But all the other chemistries, while not designed to be mixed, and no one will want to suggest mixing is ok, will probably be ok. More important is to stick with one type for the life of the car, as the chemistry can embed in the hoses and a change in chemistry can have unknowable implications even if thoroughly flushed.
