Coolant is responsible for keeping your car’s temperatures in check by circulating through the car’s cylinder block and moving heat away from the engine. It’s a very important job, and so it’s crucial that you pick the right coolant for your car.

Although they all do the same thing, there are various types of coolant that are designed slightly differently. In this blog, we’ll go over the different types of coolant, whether the different types of coolant even matter, and how you can tell which coolant is right for you.

What are the different types of coolant?

There are three main types of coolant that are used in cars: organic acid technology (OAT), inorganic additive technology (IAT), and HOAT (Hybrid OAT). There are, however, various manufacturer-specific formulations that exist. Although the names seem quite complicated, we’re here to show you that they’re actually relatively simple once you wrap your head around the different types.

OAT (Organic Acid Technology)

Organic acid technology coolant is a kind of antifreeze that enhances corrosion protection and prolongs the life of an engine’s cooling system by utilising organic acids and corrosion inhibitors. This type of coolant can last up to 10 years 75,000 miles, whichever comes first, which is part of the reason it has replaced IAT on modern cars. All Prestone coolants are OAT coolants.

IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology)

Inorganic additive technology coolant is a more traditional blue or green coolant made using ethylene glycol with added phosphates and silicates for corrosion prevention. corrosion.  This type of coolant tends to be used in older vehicles, is less effective than OAT coolants, and doesn’t last as long, with a recommended usage of 2-3 years or up to 45,000 miles.

HOAT (Hybrid OAT)

HOAT, or hybrid OAT coolant, uses a mix of OAT and IAT technologies to provide a better-performing product. Usually, they combine the organic acids used in OATs with the silicates of an IAT to deliver high-performing cooling qualities with added corrosion protection. There are also HOAT coolants available in phosphated varieties known as P-HOATs.

Does coolant type matter?

Now onto the big question: does coolant type actually matter?

In simple terms, using the wrong coolant can cause major issues such as blockages or corrosion in the cooling system which can lead to overheating and permanent engine damage if not fixed promptly. Although you typically shouldn’t mix coolant types, Prestone All Makes, All Models coolant can be mixed with any coolant already in the system.

Using the wrong coolant can lead to corrosion, deposits, or reduced performance, so it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s specification.

How to know which coolant is right for your car

Most modern OAT coolants, such as Prestone’s range are compatible with most modern cars, but a little more information can set your mind at ease to know you’re only putting in the coolant that’s right for your car.

Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual

The best way to check which coolant is right for your car is to consult your owner’s manual. In the manual, the manufacturer may have a recommended type of coolant for your car to use.

Check the coolant colour

You might be wondering why the colour is relevant, but with coolant, it can be an indicator of what type of coolant is already in the car. We’ve done a whole blog on what the different colours of coolant mean, but it’s worth noting that this isn’t always true in modern coolants.

Double-check for classic cars

Classic cars are more precious, and dare we say, more temperamental, so it’s worth double-checking which coolant your classic car is compatible with. It’s likely that an older car will use IAT coolant as it was the most common form of coolant before 1998.

In conclusion, selecting the right coolant for your car is essential for maintaining its performance and longevity.

Each type of coolant—OAT, IAT, and H-OAT—offers unique benefits and is suited to different vehicles and needs. Using the wrong coolant can lead to serious issues.

Always consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual and consider the coolant’s colour as a guide.

Always opt for a high-quality coolant, and remember to check out Prestone’s range of other excellent car maintenance products.