Anti freeze question

[Piper]

Ok, so I picked up some silicate free extended life anti freeze at the local ranch store.

It's orange.

So, the dumbest being the one not asked:

Is there any difference between the green and orange flavors?

[Joe Hummer]

Green is typically lime...orange is...umm...orange...

done a little googling (what is the difference between green and orange antifreeze) and came up with this...can't testify to the source of the information...

"An alternative to tradition green antifreeze is a product currently used by many engine manufacturers. "Orange" antifreeze is a long life or extended life type of antifreeze used to increase the useful life of engine coolant. It is ethylene glycol base as is the green antifreeze. The difference between the two colors is that orange antifreeze contains a different type of corrosion inhibitor that has a much longer service life than silicates, phosphates and borates. Orange antifreeze contains organic acids that protect engine parts from corrosion. Silicate (green) type antifreeze does not mix with orange type antifreeze. Never mix the two colors in a cooling system. The organic acids in orange types will cause precipitation of silicates in the green type and corrosion protection is greatly reduced. Orange type antifreezes are good for five years or 100,000/150,000 miles in newer vehicles (1996 and later). They can be used in many older vehicles (ask your vehicle dealer if it is safe to use orange antifreeze) if all of the green mixture is flushed from the system and is replaced with the orange mixture. Useful life is about four years or 60,000 miles in older cars."

from:  http://bioengr.ag.utk.edu/ExtProg/machinery/Articles/engcool.htm

Joe

[Bobbo]

My brother-in-law made the mistake of topping off his car radiator with "orange" antifreeze when it already had "green" in it.  The comment about silicate precipitation was true in this case, and he had to have the whole cooling system power flushed to the tune of $350.   

[Piper]

My brother-in-law made the mistake of topping off his car radiator with "orange" antifreeze when it already had "green" in it.  The comment about silicate precipitation was true in this case, and he had to have the whole cooling system power flushed to the tune of $350.   

Ok, I will pack a sack lunch and go into the stealer and pick up some honda antifreeze just to be on the safe side. Already have to stop by there for something else anyway. Just was hoping to ride instead of drive. (already drained the antifreeze from the scooter)
But one point: If you can not mix the two due to the orange antifreeze pulling the silicate from the green; what if the green antifreeze is already silicate free as it should be?

Since she probably will be stored for awhile longer, I rather be safe than sorry.

[Jay]

I had been using the Honda pre-mix.  Just drained and re-filled with the Havoline silicate and phosphate free orange stuff, mixed 50/50 with distilled water.

I don't see a problem with this as there should not be any existing silicate in the cooling system.

[Bobbo]

It's hard to say what would happen if orange and silicate free green are mixed, other than some bizarre color!  Hey, it's St. Pat's, so orange and green go together today!   There might be other chemical reactions going on besides the precipitation, so I wouldn't suggest it.

[98valk]

My brother-in-law made the mistake of topping off his car radiator with "orange" antifreeze when it already had "green" in it.  The comment about silicate precipitation was true in this case, and he had to have the whole cooling system power flushed to the tune of $350.   

$350, That's some expensive bottled water they used. 

[Bobbo]

My brother-in-law made the mistake of topping off his car radiator with "orange" antifreeze when it already had "green" in it.  The comment about silicate precipitation was true in this case, and he had to have the whole cooling system power flushed to the tune of $350.   

$350, That's some expensive bottled water they used. 

Dealer, of course.     Had to use some exotic chemicals to dissolve and "scrub" the gunk out of the aluminum block.  They treated it 3 times, I think he said, before all of the gunk was out.