When did the automotive coolant war commence? [View all]

My first new car was a 2000 Saturn SW2 (small station wagon), and my second was a 2005 Saturn Relay (minivan).

Green (old Ethylene glycol) and Orange (Dex-Cool) were the options I was aware of.

Today, with three recently acquired used vehicles (2006 Dodge Grand Caravan, 2016 Honda Odyssey, 2017 Honda Accord), now I contend with G05 (HOAT) and Honda Blue (not sure of it's formulation), which are but a few of the options.

Honda Blue in my Hondas is everything I read that one should only use and never, ever anything else.

G05 is what's recommended in my Dodge.

Mixing coolants varies online from a mortal sin punishable by death because your coolant will turn into gelatin to meh.

I had Jiffy Lube do a coolant exchange in the Dodge, but I cannot find what formulation they use. I'll stop by and ask, but I question whether they'll really know. There are so many formulations it seems inconceivable that they stock everything, so I suspect they use some sort of "universal" coolant that "mixes with everything." It looked like G05, so when the water pump started leaking [a LOT], that's what I topped off with. Keeping an eye on it to ensure it doesn't turn to gelatin.

The warnings are sufficiently strong regarding Honda Blue that I keep an eye on the coolant in both Hondas. I removed and cleaned out the overflow tanks, which was very easy in Hondas. [Less so in the Dodge.] I plan to get the coolant exchanged by the local Honda dealer since I presume the odds are best that they'll really, really use Honda Blue.

Coolant should not be this hard.