Engine coolant, also known as antifreeze, is an essential component of your car’s engine. Without it, the engine can overheat and cause lasting damage to your vehicle. It’s important therefore to keep it topped up, but the coolant required will differ depending on the model of your vehicle.
In the following guide, we break down the different types of
antifreeze and what to consider when deciding what coolant your car needs. You
can also learn what
exactly engine coolant is in our detailed
analysis and see which
coolants we have available to order online.
Types Of Engine Coolant
There are several types of coolant to choose from, organised by chemical composition and colour:
IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology) – greenOAT (Organic Acid Technology) – orangeHOAT (Hybrid OAT) – yellowHOAT phosphate free – turquoiseP – HOAT (phosphated HOAT) – pink or blueSi – OAT (Silicated HOAT) – purple
Which Coolant Should I Use?
Our part picker can help you select coolants specifically for your car via its registration number. However, when determining the correct coolant for your car, you should always consult the vehicle’s manual, as adding incompatible coolant can cause damage to the engine.
Each type of coolant has a recommended model it is compatible with:
Older model cars (pre 1998) – green IATGeneral Motors, Saab & Volkswagen – orange OATFord, Chrysler & other European models – yellow HOATBMW, Volvo, Tesla, & Mini – turquoise HOAT phosphate freeToyota, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, KIA & other Asian models –
pink or blue P HOATMercedes-Benz, Audi & Porsche – purple Si OAT
The label of the coolant should always be checked alongside your car manual, as
some colours can look different e.g., a yellow tint may actually be orange OAT
coolant.
Engine coolant is not the only fluid in your vehicle you need to maintain. To learn
how to check the transmission fluid, check out our guide
and keep your car’s parts working efficiently.
