Antifreeze fl22. What is the peculiarity of the composition?
Composition and Properties
Since its inception on the market, FL22 antifreeze has been overgrown with an incredible amount of legends, speculation and prejudice. To begin with, let's take a look at what this coolant is, and then we will gradually reach the answer to the most interesting question for car owners: how unique is it, and how can it be replaced.
The fact is that on the Russian-speaking Internet there is no information about the exact chemical composition of FL22 antifreeze. This is supposedly a trade secret of the manufacturer. Ask yourself: what is the purpose of keeping the chemical composition a secret at this time? Indeed, if desired, it is quite possible to perform a spectrographic analysis and fully know the chemical composition and proportions of the components. And if it was some kind of unique, then it could have been copied long ago. The answer here is not obvious, but also quite simple: commercial interest. By covering its product with an aura of obscurity, the manufacturer evokes in motorists an involuntary thought about its uniqueness, binds it to its product. Although in fact there is no question of any uniqueness.
The basis of all modern coolants is water and one of two alcohols: ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. Ethylene glycol is toxic. Propylene glycol is not. This is where the fatal discrepancies in chemical and physical properties end. Small differences in density, pour points, cooling and other properties will not be taken into account.
Why are there no other bases? Because ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are ideal for working in the engine cooling system. These are excellent solvents, they do not interact with additives, and the mixture with water creates a composition that is resistant to freezing and boiling. At the same time, the production of these alcohols is relatively inexpensive. Therefore, no one is trying to reinvent the wheel.
Judging by the cost of FL22 antifreeze, it is based on ethylene glycol. Expensive ethylene glycol, with a commercial markup for the brand and with an enriched package of additives. By the way, on one of the authoritative resources of Runet there is information that phosphates prevail as additives in the antifreeze in question. That is, the protective mechanism works on the principle of creating a homogeneous film on the internal surfaces of the cooling system.
The performance of the most common version of FL22 antifreeze is quite high. The freezing point is about -47 °C. Service life - 10 years or 200 thousand kilometers, whichever comes first. Green color.
Analogues and reviews of motorists
Officially, antifreezes of the FL22 line can only be mixed with the same coolants. A business move, nothing more. For example, Ravenol produces its own coolant, which has an FL22 approval. In addition to a dozen more approvals for similar "unique" fluids, including for Ford, Nissan, Subaru and Hyundai cars. It is called HJC Hybrid Japanese Coolant Concentrate and is not an analogue, but a valid substitute. It is difficult to say whether Mazda gave the go-ahead for approval. Or the manufacturer studied the composition of the FL22 antifreeze, realized that there was nothing unique in it, everything is relatively standard, and set its own tolerance.
Another factor that some car owners perceive as a kind of unique phenomenon is the service life of 10 years indicated on the canister and such a large allowable mileage without replacement. However, if you pay attention to other antifreezes, even from the same price segment, then there are many instances whose service life will even exceed FL22. For example, most antifreezes of the G12 family marked Long Life, again, according to the manufacturer, work for 250 thousand km.
Judging by the messages left on specialized forums, not a single owner of a Mazda car experienced problems when switching from the original FL22 antifreeze to another coolant option. Naturally, before replacing, you need to do a thorough flushing of the system. It is a well-known fact that some additives from dissimilar antifreezes react and settle in the system in the form of plaque.
A guaranteed replacement option is G12 ++ universal antifreeze. Other antifreezes may not be able to cope with heat dissipation due to the nature of the protective additives, which in some coolants create a too thick protective layer and interfere with heat transfer.
Motorists respond positively to FL22 antifreeze in general. It is really capable of working within the specified time limits and runs without significant degradation. The only negative point is the high price.
