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CE Service Tip: Antifreeze

Oct. 25 2023 Construction By Birkey's Farm Store

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Kind of like checking your smoke alarms the coolant condition needs to be checked at least once a year. Birkey's has two different types of antifreeze that we are currently using in our products. OAT (organic acid technology) is the newest and has been in our engines for the last few years starting in 2014.

Better Cooling Performance

  • Inorganic additives – used in conventional coolants react to the metal surfaces and attach/deposit on the metal surfaces. These deposits insulate the wall and work as barrier for heat flow between hot surface and the coolant.
  • Carboxylates additives – used in OAT coolants – do not deposit on the surface and only react with the surface where protection is required. OAT is NAPS Free (Nitrite, Amine, Phosphorous & Silicon). Nitrites can react with secondary amines to form nitroamines which are carcinogenic. Being 2-EHA (2-Ethylhexanoic acid) free, it is compatible with all system elastomer’s ensuring optimal system performance.

Liner Pitting

  • As diesel engines operate, vibration of the cylinders creates microscopic bubbles in the coolant that attach to the cylinder liners. These bubbles can implode with a force of over 15,000 PSI. This collapse can blast small holes in the cylinder liner, resulting in liner cavitation. Over time, liner cavitation can allow coolant to enter the engine oil – ultimately contributing to engine failure.

Extended Protection

  • Extended-Life OAT Coolant uses organic salts that deplete at a much slower rate compared to conventional corrosion inhibitors, which are more prone to degradation over the life of service. This results in extended service life that is more than twice as long as conventional coolants.
  • Extended-Life OAT Coolant provides up to 4,000 hours/4 years service life max (whichever comes first) in heavy equipment applications without the need of a booster or extender. Older coolant formulations provide a useful service life ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 hours (or two years, whichever comes first).


Never Mix Coolants -- Refer to the operator’s manual of the vehicle to determine the approved coolant type as well as the service life of the coolant. NEVER mix inorganic (conventional), HOAT (Hybrid OAT), or other OAT coolants with Extended-Life OAT Coolant. Mixing coolants to an Extended-Life OAT Coolant cooling system may lead to the following:

  • Loss of stability of the corrosion inhibitor
  • Cavitation erosion
  • Gelling

If you believe that the OAT coolant system has been topped off with conventional coolant, or the coolant system refilled without consideration of the proper procedures:

  • Check the Extended-Life OAT Coolant with conventional coolant test strips to see if the level of Nitrites is higher than 20 PPM (parts per million).
  • If the Nitrite level is greater than 20 PPM, a system flush is required.

Is it Extended-Life OAT Coolant?

Heavy-Duty Extended-Life OAT Coolant is red in color, however the color can vary depending on the angle it is viewed, and some other coolants may have the similar color. There is no industry color standard for OAT coolant; therefore, do not assume red coolant is Heavy-Duty Extended-Life OAT Coolant. Look for the Extended-Life OAT Coolant decal before adding or changing coolant. The decal shown on this page is located near the fill point of the cooling system whenever the factory fill is Extended-Life OAT Coolant. The decal is available in three different sizes.

It's important to check and maintain the coolant condition. The new OAT antifreeze coolant levels cannot be checked using the conventional testers and need to be checked with test strips the only way to get accurate readings. Birkeys does have the test strips which come in a box of 50. To learn more about checking coolants contact your local Birkey's Service Department today.