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How Often To Change Engine Coolant? The Guide

ByTsukasa Azuma-April 17, 2024

Maintenance of the automobile is one of the foremost things that people often disregard. Timely repairs and services enhance the performance of the vehicle to the highest degree. Changing vehicle fluids at the right time is the best way to boost your car. Engine coolant is one of the top fluids to replace one time. Swapping the coolant might differ from car to car. One can easily come across the cars that recommend replacing the coolant after 1,00,000+ miles or 1,50,000 km. The question of how often to change engine coolant might strike your mind repeatedly.

Let’s talk about the engine coolant and its alteration below

The Importance Of Engine Coolant In Your Car? 

Coolant plays an important role in regulating the optimal operating temperature of the engine as well as other parts of the vehicle. It is a mixture of water and additives designed to absorb and dissipate heat from the engine, preventing it from overheating. 

In addition to cooling, it also protects the engine from damage or wear after long periods of use. Using engine coolant is a way to help your car always operate smoothly and increase its lifespan. Engine coolant circulates through the engine, maintaining the correct working temperature of various components. There are some functions of engine coolant you can’t ignore:

  • Temperature regulation
  • Prevents freezing
  • Prevent boiling
  • Corrosion protection
  • Lubrication

There are many different reasons why car coolant is lost over time. And if the car’s coolant drops below the minimum level, or is not replaced when due, your car will experience potential damages like: 

  • Coolant warning light
  • Engine not starting 
  • Consume more fuel
  • Engine damage if not repaired promptly: Parts inside the engine will be seriously damaged such as car coolant pumps, head gaskets, cylinder heads, and warped connecting rods…

How Often To Change Engine Coolant? The Guide

The engine coolant circulates through the engine body just like the blood in our body. It flows through the engine and the radiator to keep the stuff cool. The engine absorbs the heat and transfers it to the engine’s outer blocks. The outcomes can be frightening if the coolant is not in good condition or is not replaced on time. Engine coolant is the chief car cooling system and it requires appropriate care. Maintaining the cooling system in good condition will add a few more years to the car’s life. Most car companies recommend changing the coolant after every 30,000 miles or 50,000 km. But, it generally depends on the type of automobile as well.

Let’s discuss how to replace the engine coolant in no time

1. Go through the owner’s manual

The first step that will assist in replacing the coolant is the owner manual offered with the car. One can opt for maintenance tips from professionals to get the job done swiftly. The manual will let one know how often to change engine coolant & how much is the car’s capacity.

Truth about how often to change engine coolant. (Photo: RonFullHD / Getty Images/iStockphoto)

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2. Set up the setup

Parking the vehicle over a flat surface would be great to do the task easily. Make sure to lift the car a little up to empty the old coolant. Place some sort of container beneath the radiator to hold the coolant running out.

3. Empty the radiator tank

A radiator tank is usually a metal or plastic tank placed beside the engine. Keeping the container right beneath the tank will assist to catch the flushed fluid. Open the valve and empty the radiator tank completely. You need to make sure to drain the old coolant from the system, be sure to do this when the car has completely cooled down, to avoid potential risks. Close the valve to add the fresh coolant into the radiator tank.

4. Replace it!

Coolant replacement is not a big deal now. One can change the old coolant with a newer one now. Fill the radiator as per the radiator capacity. And, it’s done!

Benefits of how often to change engine coolant. Source: Pav_1007 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

5. Test your car 

Start the engine and let the car idle. During this process, continuously monitor the temperature gauge to avoid overheating the engine. If the temperature needle reaches the red level, turn off the engine immediately and monitor whether the amount of car coolant in the tank is enough or not.

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Car coolant is a chemical compound that can pollute the environment. Therefore, we need to have the equipment to contain coolant after flushing, and at the same time have a unit to collect and support treatment, not pouring it directly into the environment. Therefore, if you do not have the time and complete equipment, it is best to choose the option of replacing your car’s coolant at a professional center. We should only add car coolant at home If we have the basic knowledge.

Winding Up

That’s all! These were some tips for replacing the engine coolant perfectly. Hope you have got the answer for how often to change engine coolant. Keep these tips in mind for better maintenance of your car.

Tsukasa Azuma is an awesome car blogger of Car From Japan. He owns a car repair shop at downtown Osaka, and he put all that experience to good use in his sharing posts. Tsukasa’s blog is one of the best resources for information about keeping your favorite imported car running smoothly. Moreover, because of being passionate to learn about the recent happenings in auto industry, he doesn’t only provide great car maintenance tips, he also always updates latest trends in among car brands and share them in his own interesting viewpoint.

Comments

Buster Palmer22:13 July 16, 2019
Reply

Coolant is the mixture of alcohol and water. It is also known as antifreeze. The primary function of the coolant is to absorb the extreme heat produced in the engine compartment. Coolant flush is an important part of preventive maintenance. This maintenance errand needs to be carried out at recommended intervals. Flushing coolant on a regular basis will remove rust and deposits, remove contaminants, extend the lifespan of the water pump, and prevent the antifreeze from becoming acidic.

patrick18:51 December 03, 2018
Reply

I thought coolant and distilled water are added together in equal amount of 50%?

Leonard21:20 November 21, 2018
Reply

Does it mean there is no water to be added?