Ultralife antifreeze coolants cover a range of engines used in the off-highway and construction sectors. They are ideal for fleet managers, dealerships and mechanics that are responsible for a variety of different vehicle technologies, OEM brands and vehicle models.
Adrian Hill, technology manager for Morris Lubricants said: “Traditional coolant specifications have relied on products using simple chemistry, typically with a two-year lifespan. As the metallurgies used in engine design continue to develop, alongside changing duty cycles, antifreeze coolant technology has needed to evolve in parallel, to help maximise engine protection as well as preventing freezing and overheating.
“Morris Lubricants has met this challenge, with the introduction of a newly improved Ultralife range of antifreeze coolants, providing protection at temperatures as low as -37° C across the entire portfolio.”
The new range incorporates a variety of additive chemistries that are chosen to further enhance the performance and longevity of cooling system components.
These new antifreeze coolants are all based on organic acid technology (OAT) as opposed to old-style products that have used inorganic (mineral) chemistry for rust and corrosion protection. This older chemistry is active and depletes over a two-year period.
In contrast OAT-based coolants are said to offer a much longer service life. The organic acids (carboxylates) only interact when the electrolytic process of corrosion starts to take place. As a result, this technology is claimed to operate in a more selective way, resulting in a longer lifespan of at least five years.
The older chemistry associated with traditional two-year antifreeze still has its place and some of its features can be used with new technologies to provide tailored protection, depending on the mixture of metallurgies used in the engine platform.
For example, silicates can be added to enhance the protection of aluminium, which is a dominant material used in engine construction. Phosphates may also be used to help control cavitation corrosion and maintain a good, slightly alkaline working pH.
These products that make use of a mixture of OAT and inorganic chemistry are referred to as hybrid antifreeze coolants.
Hill concluded: "Historically, antifreeze coolants may not have been viewed as integral to overall engine performance and longevity, but operators are now realising the benefits of investing in an antifreeze coolant that can contribute to improved efficiencies and reduced environmental impact. That's why we are launching such an extensive new range, providing optimised coverage.”