The important thing to remember is that OAT coolants work better when minimally exposed to outside air that can contribute to accelerating corrosion. In severe cases where the vehicle has been stored with IAT coolants, these silicates can turn into something similar to a silicate gel that, if allowed to harden in the absence of water, can be extremely hard to remove from the cooling system. Unfortunately, these silicates can also form gels if used beyond their service life. The traditional green ethylene glycol does contain silicates that are used to prevent corrosion. Organic coolants generally contain no phosphates or silicates that can cause problems. Vehicles with aluminum radiators and aluminum components can use a new formula called HyperKuhl. To this end, we’ve for years used a product from Applied Chemical Specialties called No-Rosion as an anti-corrosion additive for vehicles using a brass-copper radiator. Conversely, IAT or green coolant should be either changed or at least fortified with additional anti-corrosion additives. Users of this coolant report that not only does this antifreeze last upwards of 5 years or 100,000 miles but it also does not appear to succumb to corrosion problems. This is a P-HOAT or a Phosphate Hybrid Organic Acid Technology coolant. In this case with all new components, you might consider using a coolant like the Asian formula antifreeze that is generally dyed pink or perhaps blue. Yes there are universal coolants out there but they are often more expensive and our sources tell us that they are unsure of how they would react chemically.Įxceptions to this rule might be for a brand new engine build using a late model engine like an LS swapped into an older muscle car using a new aluminum radiator. It should say on the label somewhere that this is an IAT or inorganic acid technology coolant. We could get into a long discussion about the different types of coolants but in the interest of not falling into a detailed chemical discussion that very few (including this author) really understands, it’s best to just stay with the recommended coolant for your vehicle.Īs a 1990 truck, this would be the old standby green antifreeze but you have to be careful to be sure of what you’re buying. What can happen is that mixing these coolants creates a slush or gel that can be difficult to remove. The criticisms of Dex-Cool stem from situations when car owners mistakenly mixed their original OAT Dex-Cool with an IAT coolant. Dex-Cool you mentioned is a completely different style of coolant, something called Organic Acid Technology or OAT (pronounced oh-at). For example, the green traditional ethylene glycol is referenced as an Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT, pronounced I-at) coolant. The newer materials are better and last longer but they do not always mix well. This is what you should choose as your go-to antifreeze choice. This was the standard antifreeze for decades and what was used in your truck likely since it was new. It could take a small book to explain all the details so we’ll start by saying that the old school antifreeze was an ethylene glycol material that is generally colored green. There have been massive changes in coolant over the last 10 years or so. I’ve read where GM now uses something called Dex-Cool that lasts long but others tell me to stay away from it. All I see is “universal” antifreeze but I don’t even know what that means. I was going to just buy plain, regular antifreeze but it appears that everything has changed since I last bought stuff years ago. I live in Nebraska where it gets really cold so fresh antifreeze is going to be necessary. I have a new project that will force this truck outside for the winter. I have a ’90 Chevy pickup that is rarely driven but has been stored in my heated garage for several years.
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