CHOOSE YOUR COOLANT WELL

Different Types of Coolant

There are three types of coolant, each with a different extreme temperature resistance threshold:

Type 1 liquid freezes below -15 °C and evaporates at 155 °C;

Type 2 liquid freezes below -18 °C and evaporates at 108 °C;

A liquid of type 3 freezes below -35 °C and evaporates at 155 °C.

— Mineral: Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) It is the first coolant. Although it is now outdated par compared to the requirements of modern engines, it is still used for older vehicles. (blue or green)

—Organic Additive Technology (OAT) So-called "universal" liquids fall into this category. They are the most respectful of the environment and have the advantage of being miscible with other types of liquids. (yellow, red, pink or lilac)

— Hybride : Hybrid Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) It is a mixture of IAT and OAT that has a lifespan of 5 years. This new technology has been developed to meet the specific specifications of certain manufacturers. (yellow)

To avoid damaging your cooling circuit, the easiest way is to always top up with a liquid of the same type. To be sure, the liquid with which you top up must have the same color as the liquid already present in the expansion tank.

But be careful, it is strongly not recommended to mix it with a type 1 or 2 liquid. You necessarily have to do a coolant flush to change to a 3 type fluid.

If you mix liquids of different types, you risk causing a clog in the cooling circuit and your radiator! The coolant would then become a kind of thick mud clogging the small pipes of your radiator. Your engine would no longer be cooled enough and you risk damaging it.

Coolant is essential for the proper functioning of your engine system and your motorcycle, scooter or quad. The latter is a heat transfer liquid, that is to say that it allows the calories generated byar your engine. This one can't expulser all alone.

Coolants consist of 90% glycol and 10% additives. Glycol is a sweet substance and does most of the frost protection. The additives protect them from corrosion and lubrication, and must correspond exactly with the operating conditions of the vehicle.

In order to be able to compare the quality of coolants, you should definitely know its 3 components:

- water is the major part of the liquid, in the past it was necessary to use distilled water, today it is recommended to use distilled water tap water

- glycol (ethylene or propylene) is added to water to lower its freezing point below zero (which prevents it from freezing on hot days) winter) and raise its boiling point above 100 degrees, in order to prevent the production of steam in the circuit.

- anti-corrosive additives based on organic or inorganic inhibitors, have been added more recently to prevent scale deposits and the corrosion causedar the water-glycol mixture on the radiator and on the engine.

Do not hesitate to put a few euros more for a good quality liquid, and adapted to your motorcycle.