When do you need to change your car’s coolant?

The coolant in your car’s radiator is not an eternal liquid. Consumable fluids, such as engine oil, automatic transmission, and brake fluid, need to be replaced periodically to keep your vehicle running reliably and smoothly. Additionally, radiator coolant needs to be flushed and refilled regularly to prevent internal corrosion, overheating and other problems in extreme cold conditions. Now this brings us to an important question. When do you need to change your car’s coolant?

When do you need to change your car’s coolant?

The term “coolant” is a misnomer. More than helping to keep the engine cool, the coolant inside the radiator lubricates internal moving parts to keep corrosion under control. Contains antifreeze and other additives to maintain a healthy cooling system and prevent coolant from hardening in freezing weather.

Lastly, coolant has a higher boiling point than water, offering superior lubricating and cooling properties to better protect the engine in extreme driving scenarios such as stop-and-go traffic. Inspecting the coolant level in the reservoir weekly or before taking a long trip is a good practice. Excessive loss of coolant leads to sudden overheating. This can damage the engine and cooling system, leading to expensive repair bills.

When to change

It’s not just a question of when to change the coolant. It is essential to select the correct coolant for your car. The problem is that there are many types of coolant or antifreeze, and the liquid comes in many colors, which makes it doubly difficult for consumers to choose the right one. You can eliminate the guesswork by consulting your owner’s manual.

Older vehicles may require green IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology) coolant. In contrast, others need OAT (Organic Acid Technology) or HOAT (Hybrid Organic Acid Technology) which come in red, pink, purple, yellow or other colors. Using the wrong coolant can cause premature corrosion and poor antifreeze properties.

Toyota and Honda recommend replacing the coolant every two years or 48 thousand km. However, it is worth checking the condition of the liquid at least every 24 thousand km. You will not damage the engine and radiator if you flush and replace the coolant before the recommended maintenance interval. However, keeping contaminated antifreeze circulating inside the engine will undoubtedly cause problems in the long run.