How To Choose the Correct Coolant for a Car

Car coolant comes in a literal rainbow of different colors and different types. When you get a car coolant replacement job, you shouldn’t need to panic about which coolant to put in the car. If you’re just starting out in the auto repair industry, it can be hard thinking about coolant types for a car other than your own. Knowing how to choose the correct coolant for a car is an essential skill for any avid car mechanic and should be known by any car owner.

Know the Three Types of Coolant

Unless you specialize in a single manufacturer’s cars in your auto repair shop, you should gear yourself up with knowledge of the main three different types of coolant. Though there are common colors for each kind of coolant, always check what kind of coolant the label says it is before you pour.

Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT)

Older cars manufactured in the United States before the 1990s typically use the less-efficient IAT engine coolant. This coolant is often green and will contain silicates that protect the engine from corrosion. Due to its lack of efficiency, a car that uses IAT coolant will need it flushed and replaced every two years or 24,000 miles.

As mentioned before, generally only older American cars often use IAT coolant.

Organic Acid Technology (OAT)

Newer cars from the 2000s use newer coolant technology, like OAT coolant. It will often come in an orange color. If a car runs on OAT coolant, it needs a flush and replacement every five years or 50,000 miles.

GM, Saab, and VW often use OAT coolant.

Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT)

HOAT coolant is where it starts to get a little bit tricky. While there is the main category, HOAT, there are also three subcategories of it: Phosphate-Free HOAT, Phosphated HOAT (P-HOAT), and Silicated HOAT (Si-OAT). HOAT uses both silicate technology and organic acid technology to protect the car’s engine. Don’t rely on colors to tell HOAT apart, as different brands can use different formulas. All cars running on HOAT coolants should be flushed and changed every five years or 50,000 miles.

Ford, Chrysler, and most European manufactured cars use HOAT; BMW, Volvo, Tesla, and many other manufacturers use Phosphate-Free HOAT; cars manufactured in Asia, such as Honda, Toyota, and KIA use P-HOAT; and many luxury car brands like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Lamborghini, and some VW brands use Si-OAT.

Know the Manufacturer

Becoming an expert on how to choose the coolant for a car requires that you know each car’s manufacturer uses different types of coolants. Sometimes you can separate them by country, but generally, it’s best to research the manufacturer or read the car’s manual first. Even if a car seems to be listed under a broad category of coolant, it’s mandatory that you check to see if a manufacturer requires their own blend of coolant in a car. Some manufacturers, like Honda and VW, are known to have their own coolant blends.

For every coolant change, you need the right automotive shop equipment, like coolant leak testers and funnels. Tooldom’s collection of equipment will keep you supplied for all of your tough car repairs.