Today my Escort had its timing belt, water pump and belt tensioner changed, i had been using an OAT Pink colour 30% premix coolant until now as it's what most of the people seem to be using on Escort forums.
They refilled it instead with a regular green IAT 30% premix coolant, considering dumping it all out and refilling with what i was using until now, what do you all who have engines with cast iron blocks and aluminium heads use? IAT or OAT, green or red/pink?
Is one or the other inherently better for an engine with an aluminium head?

I use OAT on EVERYTHING. Iron/Iron, Iron/Alum, Alum/Iron, Alum/Alum...doesn't matter. It all gets the same OAT.

No problems to report after 15 years.

Green was good when everything was iron. I prefer hoat or oat on aluminum.

For your 1988 Escort, Ford indicates you should continue using the conventional green coolant. This was published in 2012.

There is more to consider that aluminum and cast iron. You also have to consider the gaskets used in the system, and if there is any copper, brass, or solder.

Many VW engines still come with an iron block and an aluminum head like both cars in my signature. Using G40 coolant would be my choice.

I use what the OEM says to use. I don't trust "Universal" coolants. If I have to, I'll buy it from the dealer.

There was a video posted on the subject a while back. Maybe use the search facility (should do so anytime you want to create a new post anyway; 90% of the questions here are already answered).

Use a good heavy duty engine coolant for diesel trucks. Almost all are designed to protect multi metal systems, including brass, copper, and high/low lead solder.

Peak Final Charge is a good one you can find almost anywhere.

I like G-05 HOAT in older cars. It's a hybrid coolant. IAT tech for fast action with OAT tech for long life.

I do use the Green (Zerex) in our 2 vintage Mopar flathead 6's. Everything else, except the Super Duty diesel gets either Toyota Pink or Zerex Red or Pink. Ford, it seems cannot make up their mind on coolant as they've changed their recommendation again. Our diesel SD is a 2015. Just to protect the warranty, I use Motorcraft Orange in it...it's sort of like in the engine oil; I simply use the Motorcraft 15W-40 and let a Ford dealer change it. That way, no warranty headaches. I've said the above to tell you that if that were my Ford, I'd get rid of the green and do a full flush, then use the chemistry Ford calls for in that particular engine. Doesn't necessarily have to be the Motorcraft, but I'd certainly avoid any "Suitable for any car," coolants.

Yep....Plus there's no reason to dump the fluid that's suppose to be in there.

I have this doubt because all the people in the forums tell me they use OAT Pink / Violet coolants,.

Zoom in on the engine pic in this page from a road test from 1986 : https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggersca...7-bmHLHG-btAZ52

This is a brand new car and it clearly has pink / red colour coolant in it not green.

Be careful with enthusiast forums. Many people post things because they feel they use special fluids instead of the mundane and pedestrian fluids the hoi polloi use, and they feel better for it. Some even reengineer their cars without thinking of the down sides. Many times good old regular green antifreeze is just fine, and may be less harmful to your vehicle than a HOAT or OAT fluid may be.

Hmmm you're proably right about the forums, have hard some lousy advice on those in the past!

I use John Deere Cool-Guard II in everything. New, old, mix metal engines, aluminum core radiators, you name it. Its probably the best coolant/antifreeze I ever used, the nice part is the testing strips you can check it 5-6 yrs down the road and change it or add an additive package to it.

https://jdparts.deere.com/partsmkt/document/english/pmac/52394_fb_AntiFreezeCoolGard_II.htm

The Europeans have an aversion to phosphorus in their coolants - BASF did create G-05 and G-48 in the 1980s and I would stick to either.

Toyota's red LLC was also introduced in the 1980s, and back then most Toyo motors were iron block/aluminum head.