Automotive Coolants & Antifreeze

When should I replace my coolant fluid?

In general, follow your OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturer) guidelines. If you do not have a guide and are using traditional coolant, then change every two years. Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant is every 5 years or 250,000 km. Extended Life Heavy Duty is 960,000 km, 12,000 hours, or 4 years, whichever comes first.

It is important to note that you should check a coolant system at least twice a year. If the coolant is dirty, cloudy, or full of particulate, then the coolant system should be drained, flushed, cleaned, and refilled with a pre-diluted good quality coolant. Also, the reason for the bad condition of the coolant should be determined.

Why can’t I use straight coolant instead of diluting it? Will not more coolant give me better protection?

Because it will freeze. The freeze point of undiluted coolant will only be -13ºC, and therefore you could have freeze point problems in the wintertime. Too much corrosion inhibitor could lead to inhibitor fallout, especially in those cases where SCAs (supplemental coolant additive) are added. Physical properties of pure coolant are not the same as premixed coolant.

Why do the directions state that distilled, deionized, or soft water should be used to blend coolant?

Some coolants are sensitive to hard water, which can cause some corrosion inhibitors to form insoluble salts in the water. The result is premature coolant failure. Hard water salts will deposit on hot areas within the coolant system creating insulating films, which contribute to overheating problems in the coolant system.

Why is it not recommended to mix Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant with traditional coolant?

There are two basic issues here:

Incompatibility between coolants – chemical instability where the corrosion inhibitors fall out of the coolant.

Performance issues – the performance of the combined mixture is only as good as the weakest link.

What is an OAT coolant? Do you manufacture any?

Yes, our Organic Acid Technology (OAT) engine coolant is Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant. It is an engine coolant that is based on fully neutralized organic acid corrosion inhibitors. These corrosion inhibitors last longer than traditional corrosion inhibitors, and this is why OAT coolants are typically long life products. These coolants do not contain phosphates, borates, silicates, etc.

I have a mixed fleet of diesel and regular automotive vehicles. Can I use your Turbo Power Diesel Antifreeze/Coolant in regular fuel applications?

No. Recochem’s Turbo Power coolants are specially formulated to meet various engine requirements. We do not recommend using diesel engine coolants in regular vehicles because all of our coolants meet different performance specifications. Our Turbo Power Diesel Antifreeze/Coolant 86-284 is made for all types of heavy-duty car and truck diesel engines. For cars and light duty trucks, use the Turbo Power Universal Antifreeze/Coolant 86-244.

How should I cleanup engine coolant that has spilled or leaked out of my vehicle?

Either dilute a small spill with a large amount of water, or absorb the spill with a small amount of absorbent material (i.e. kitty litter). Dispose of the absorbent material in regular garbage.

Is Universal Antifreeze/Coolant aluminum compatible?

Yes, Universal Antifreeze/Coolant is fully aluminum compatible.