Why does coolant need to be changed

Once that is done, a new mixture is put in. The question now becomes how often should the coolant be changed. There are a few criteria that can be used to help determine the frequency. Areas of extreme cold or heat will require attention to the coolant system.

The air conditioner must be taken into consideration because it will raise the heat of the engine temperature. Anyone who lives in a very warm climate, using the air conditioner daily, will probably have to change the coolant on a periodic basis. By looking inside the radiator you can determine if the coolant is starting to go bad.

Healthy coolant should be green and it can be red. If there is rust floating in the liquid that is a signal the coolant is starting to go bad. A coolant tester can be purchased to ascertain whether or not the coolant needs to change at a given moment in time. Be sure if you are using a tester that the engine is neither hot nor warm but cold. Over time, the old anti-freeze loses its anti-corrosive properties, which allows for contaminants to build up in the cooling system.

Getting a coolant flush will completely clean these particles from the system. When you get a coolant flush, it is also common to receive an inspection of your entire cooling system including the thermostat, radiator and all hoses and belts.

This is beneficial because it checks for leaks and other potential problems. Getting a coolant flush will prevent the old anti-freeze from becoming acidic. There is an important distinction between the two. It is VERY important that you use the correct one for your vehicle, especially if repairs were done and extra coolant was added. Mixing coolants can be an expensive mistake. This is yet another reason to have your vehicle serviced by a trustworthy mechanic who understands which antifreeze is appropriate for your vehicle.

When you simply drain and replace, the only coolant you are changing is what is inside the radiator, the overflow reservoir, and possibly a bit that is inside the radiator hoses. This is less than half of what is inside your engine. To remove all of the coolant, a machine needs to be hooked up to the vehicle so it can force out the old coolant. This is usually called a coolant flush and is far more effective at removing all of the old, dirty coolant from your vehicle.

In the end, flushing the old coolant from your vehicle is cheap insurance, especially when you consider the cost of a new radiator or water pump. Have a trusted mechanic measure the protection of the coolant in your vehicle if you have 50, or more miles on your vehicle or if you have had some type of repair done on the cooling system and you have doubts about the coolant that was used or its condition.

Since engines contain many parts that can rust, the coolant picks up the rust during the circulation process and deposits it in another part of the car. Regular flushing keeps the coolant clean and prevents blockages. Depending on the vehicle and the coolant, the average time between flushes is two years or 30, miles for silicated coolants and up to five years or , miles for an extended drain coolant. You can tell which type of coolant you have by the color.

The silicate coolants are usually green, and the extended drain coolants are often gold or orange. If your car does not start like it should, take a look at the coolant overflow reservoir.

Monitor it for the day to see if the level fluctuates. If it does, then the coolant is probably not cooling the engine like it should, and you should bring your car in to have it flushed. If you need to add coolant repeatedly, then you should have the system checked. If you see signs of a leak, you should also bring it to your dealer so they can take a look.