dont mix or use the wrong TYPE of coolant. the hd extended life coolant for buells is silicate-free, phosphate-free, nitrate-free and borate-free. make sure you use a coolant that is free of those additives....and same spec (sae/astm etc.) recomended by the vehicle manufacture..... and please DONT USE regular tap water to dillute any coolant., USE distilled or deionized water to eliminate cooling system contamination.
You can't go by color because it varies, every company's antifreezes have different combinations of additives and inhibitors. those additives and inhibitors have different effects on different metals and the solder or welds of the cooling systems and engine water passages & seals. some can cause corrosion if used in the wrong type of system. read the spec for the coolant and use that same or equal sae/astm spec coolant. Traditional antifreeze formulas for domestic applications with aluminum radiators, cylinder heads or blocks contain a high level of silicates (which is not really needed in cast iron engines with copper/brass radiators). Silicates form a protective barrier on aluminum that protects the metal. Silicates form a protective barrier on aluminum that protects the metal. additives in European and Asian OEM antifreezes, however, contain less silicates and rely mostly on borates to inhibit corrosion. most all European antifreezes also contains no phosphates because hard water can react with phosphates to form calcium and magnesium sediments. The Asians use phosphates but no borates and low or no silicates because they say borates may actually add to the aluminum corrosion problem if the coolant is neglected.
extended life coolants use an entirely different corrosion inhibiting chemistry that uses carboxylate organic acids instead of the silicates, phosphates or borates(this what is in most newer GM & some Ford & Chrysler & some other manufactures cars)and if you use the wrong coolant type in these vehicles with extended life organic acids it will cause the solders & metal to corrode at a much faster rate and on cars the first to corrode is the heater core and that leaks into your passager floor board. and the so called universal coolant are not truely all universal and they work okay, but really should only be used as a temporary fix, or if you dont really care about your vehicle. please remember your oil & coolant are your BEST & cheapest insurance for your vehicles engine. the better it is, engine fluids, the better it will run and the longer it will last.
