When it comes to car maintenance, you have a lot of factors to consider. When you perform a coolant flush or a radiator replacement, you need to ensure you are using the right type.
With so many to pick from, how do you know which is right for your vehicle? It’s important to determine – what is HOAT coolant and how does it differ from OAT?
In this guide, I discuss the valuable properties of coolant. I also analyze the HOAT variety to determine if it’s the right option for your vehicle.
What is HOAT Coolant?
HOAT means Hybrid Organic Acid Technology, or Hybrid OAT. This coolant type is a combination of OAT (Organic Acid Technology) and IAT (Inorganic Acid Technology). While it is normally yellow in color, you can also find it in purple, blue, pink or turquoise.
HOAT Coolant contains added silicates for additional protection against rusting or corrosion of the aluminum parts. It’s meant for newer cars, with some of the top manufacturers recommending it. This type of coolant should be flushed every 100,000 miles or every five years, whichever one comes first. This is a much longer service life than some other types of coolant.
HOAT antifreeze will often be labeled with terms like G-05, G-11, G-12 and Global, and you need to check your owner’s manual to see which type your car requires. You will find HOAT coolant in many vehicles like Volkswagen, Ford, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, Audi, KIA, Hyundai, Nissan, Honda, Toyota, and many more.
What Does Coolant Do?
Coolant contains several alcohols that are either mono ethylene glycol or mono propylene glycol. The mono propylene glycol solution is a synthetic option that has no color, is odorless, and doesn’t taste like anything. It’s the main ingredient in many popular coolants and is also used with other industrial products. It has been deemed the safer of the two and is considered non-toxic. This alcohol type features a 370-degree Fahrenheit boiling point and has a freezing point of about -74 degrees.
The mono ethylene glycol is another alcohol that is used in coolants. It is colorless but has a sweet smell and taste. Plus, it’s extremely toxic. The freezing point of this alcohol is 8 degrees Fahrenheit, while the boiling point is around 400 degrees.
Mixing these alcohol solutions with water to the appropriate balance helps to raise the freezing and boiling points of the engine. Not only will the right antifreeze keep the cooling system fluids from freezing in cold temperatures, but it also absorbs the heat from the motor to prevent overheating. As with other liquids, it keeps corrosion to a minimum too.
The function of HOAT Coolant
The main purpose of HOAT coolant is to cool off the car motor, which is the same as any coolant type. This solution flows through the channels of the engine to dissipate the heat that’s produced by the motor. It’s needed to perform well in a variety of engine temperatures.
Because of the special hybrid engineering, HOAT coolant also helps to keep rust from occurring, and it’s also protective against corrosion. This characteristic works well whether it is operating in low or high temperatures. Plus, it has a significantly longer service life than most other coolant types. It can be used for up to five years or 100,000 miles without degrading.
While this is much longer than IAT coolant, it’s not as effective as OAT. Still, it offers better protection against corrosion, making it the overall better option.
Sometimes, manufacturers recommend mixing special additives in the system when HOAT is being used. These additives will typically include silicates, phosphates, nitrates, or molybdates.
You might need to add something every 25,000 miles to ensure maximum effectiveness. However, don’t ever mix HOAT coolant with IAT or OAT solutions. Even though it is a combination of the two, you are not supposed to add any more. Otherwise, you might lose some of the valuable benefits of HOAT.
Differences Between OAT vs. HOAT Coolant
1. Color
The most obvious difference between the two is the color. HOAT is normally yellow in color, but you can also find it in purple, blue, pink or turquoise.
In almost all cases, the OAT coolant is orange. In comparison, IAT coolant is often going to be green.
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2. Lifetime
It’s clear that the HOAT coolant has an exceptionally long lifetime. You can go five years or 100,000 miles between changes.
However, the OAT coolant lasts even longer. It’s designed for up to ten years or 150,000 miles. HOAT has a reduced lifespan because it is mixed with IAT, which needs to be changed every two years or 30,000 miles. Even though HOAT has a shorter lifespan, it provides superior corrosion protection.
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3. Price
Both HOAT and OAT are going to cost far more than IAT. However, among the two, HOAT is the lower-cost option.
You could spend about $30 a gallon for HOAT coolant. On the other hand, the OAT gallon might be somewhere between $50 and $65.
If you want to get the best price on either of these coolant types, check online. While you might have to wait a few extra days to get your hands on the coolant, the savings will be far worth the wait. However, stay away from any sellers that have the price too good to be true. You don’t want to put any sub-par fluid into your car, or you might face bigger problems down the road.
How to Find the Right Coolant for Your Car
There was a time when drivers would pick the coolant based on the color of what is already in the system. These days, this isn’t a great way to choose a coolant. Several types of coolants use varying colors, so you only want to rely on solid information. Additionally, when you purchase your coolant, read the label carefully to ensure you’ve chosen the right kind.
If you don’t know what coolant your car uses, reference the owner’s manual. It tells you exactly what type of fluids to use during regular maintenance. If you don’t have the owner’s manual, you might be able to find a pdf file online. Additionally, you can reach out to your local dealership to get the information. While the owner’s manual is going to recommend an OEM formula, you should be able to find a comparable aftermarket version if you prefer.
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Is Hoat coolant the best?
Hoat coolant is a premium coolant that offers superior protection for your engine. It contains a special additive package that helps to prevent corrosion and protect against overheating. Overall, Hoat coolants are an excellent choice for protecting your engine and ensuring its longevity. However, you should always use the coolant suggested by your car manufacturer to avoid trouble.
Can Oat and Hoat coolant be mixed?
No. HOAT coolants are not compatible with OAT or NOAT coolants, and should not be mixed, even if HOAT is a hybrid mix of OAT and IAT coolant. By mixing these you may lose some of the valuable benefits of HOAT.
What happens if you mix Hoat and OAT coolant?
Mixing HOAT and OAT coolant can lead to many unwanted results. For example, it can create a slushie-like consistency that can damage your engine. The HOAT and OAT coolants are not compatible and should not be mixed.
Does it matter what brand of coolant I use?
Yes. Different coolant brands have different compositions and properties. But as long as you choose a coolant that is made for your engine with the right specifications recommended by your car manufacturer, it should work well, although some brands may have better properties and quality than others.
Categories: Coolant