Coolant color change

[Mosey]

Hi all,

I have noticed that the coolant in the main reservoir is significantly darker than the small one. I know the larger reservoir is in the main coolant loop, cooling the engine, turbos, and providing heat for the cabin. It also flows coolant though the infamous exhaust heat exchanger. The smaller tank is part of the inverter coolant loop (I believe).

The question is: Why has the engine coolant darkened? Is this darkening normal for Ford coolant? or is it a sign of something wrong?

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[Snakebitten]

Interesting.
I do believe that the large expansion tank coolant is representative of coolant that commonly is operating at 200F, while the other loop, as far as I can tell, is just a bit over 1/2 that temperature. ~100-120F

Im guessing that temperature eventually could and would affect color?

 

[Atlee]

Hi all,

I have noticed that the coolant in the main reservoir is significantly darker than the small one. I know the larger reservoir is in the main coolant loop, cooling the engine, turbos, and providing heat for the cabin. It also flows coolant though the infamous exhaust heat exchanger. The smaller tank is part of the inverter coolant loop (I believe).

The question is: Why has the engine coolant darkened? Is this darkening normal for Ford coolant? or is it a sign of something wrong?

Same with my PWR Boost. One looks yellow, and one looks orange.

 

[Gros Ventre]

I've noticed the same thing. I had it analyzed by Blackstone Labs. There was no problem. Here's the report:

 

[imnuts]

I'll look at my truck this weekend, but if it's the same color out of the reservoir, could just be a weird light filtering effect through the plastic or reflecting off something under the hood. Although a coolant test likely doesn't do a full breakdown, I can't see them being the same if the colors are actually different.

 

[richardrocks]

Same thing on my Wrangler! One reservoir is pink, another sort of purple. Didn’t start out that way… so it’s a thing ?‍

 

[Gros Ventre]

Remember, the hi temp circuit comes in contact with the cylinder walls. The peak temp inside a cylinder is around 1700ºF and the wall's surface is commensurately hot. The lo temp circuit doesn't come near that.

 

[LaHerencia]

Hi all,

I have noticed that the coolant in the main reservoir is significantly darker than the small one. I know the larger reservoir is in the main coolant loop, cooling the engine, turbos, and providing heat for the cabin. It also flows coolant though the infamous exhaust heat exchanger. The smaller tank is part of the inverter coolant loop (I believe).

The question is: Why has the engine coolant darkened? Is this darkening normal for Ford coolant? or is it a sign of something wrong?

Mine is the same way; main coolant light colored, secondary is darker. I just added coolant to the main tank because it was just below the low mark. Not sure how long its been that way. Fingers crossed that its not a leak.

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