The coolant rainbow

One important point about antifreeze: there are now many different formulations available for use in different vehicles, and even in specific applications. It’s not just “the green stuff” any more, there’s red, orange, yellow, blue, etc.

 But don’t think this means that you can just go by color, even though color can be indicative of a certain type of antifreeze, those of the same or similar color can be formulated substantially differently. For the most part, different types of antifreeze should not be mixed, and also, in many cases, one type cannot be substituted for another. Doing so could cause all sorts of problems, including severe cooling system or engine damage. Make sure that the proper antifreeze formulation for your vehicle is the one being used. The vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation can be found in your owner’s manual.

Regular maintenance is always the best insurance against cooling system failures, and breakdowns on the road.
When having your mobile A/C system professionally serviced, insist on proper repair procedures and quality replacement parts. Insist on recovery and recycling so that refrigerant can be reused and not released into the atmosphere.

You can E-mail us at macsworldwide@macsw.org or visit http://bit.ly/cf7az8 to find a Mobile Air Conditioning Society repair shop in your area. Visit http://bit.ly/9FxwTh to find out more about your car’s mobile A/C and engine cooling system.