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The choice of antifreeze and its ready-to-use, water-mixed form, engine coolant, differs between vehicles. If you’re looking to top-up or flush and re-fill your cooling system, this guide will help you find the correct coolants for your car. 

What’s the correct antifreeze for my car? 

Unsure what antifreeze you need? Multiple types of antifreeze are available, with each using a different type of corrosion inhibitor. This is indicated by a coloured dye: 

  • IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology) – Silicates – Green 

  • OAT (Organic Acid Technology) – Organic Acids – Orange 

  • HOAT (Hybrid OAT, Phosphate-free) – NAP-free – Turquoise 

  • HOAT (Hybrid OAT) – Silicates and organic acids – Yellow 

  • Si-OAT (Silicated HOAT) – Silicates and organic acids – Purple  

  • P-HOAT (Phosphated HOAT) – Phosphates and organic acids – Blue or pink 

If you are wondering which of these types of antifreeze is correct for your car, always check your owner’s manual – every vehicle differs, and using the wrong type of antifreeze will likely cause expensive or irreversible damage to your engine.  

 

What coolant should I use? 

Coolants are simply a mix of water and antifreeze, so you are unsure what coolant you should use, the choice will correspond with the colours and inhibitor types listed above. As with purchasing the correct ready-mixed coolant, always check your owner’s manual before you buy – using the incorrect coolant, or a mix of different coolant varieties, will end up damaging your engine. 

 

Use Total LubAdvisor 

As well as displaying which lubricants drivers and fleet operators should use, Total LubAdvisor also provides coolant recommendations: 

  1. Enter your reg or search for your vehicle. 
  2. On the vehicle page, click ‘Select other component’. 
  3. Select ‘Cooling system’. 
  4. View the recommended coolant for your vehicle. 

Don’t leave your choice of antifreeze or coolant to chance – always check your owner’s manual. For more information, learn more about what antifreeze and coolant are, find out whether coolant is the same as antifreeze or contact our experts if you have a specific query. 

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