How often should i change the coolant in my car

“Replace your coolant after the first 210,000 km (140,000 miles) or 120 months, then every 30,000 km (20,000 miles) or 24 months to keep the engine at optimal performance.”

Table of Contents Show

When to check on your coolant
So, when do you change your coolant?
What happens when you miss changing your coolant?
Common signs that you already need to change coolant
Popular Articles
How long does coolant last in a car?
Does coolant need to be changed?
How often should you be replacing coolant?
What happens if you never change coolant?

Coolant, usually composed of water and antifreeze, can own several properties that improve performance with the support of additives. For example, a corrosion inhibitor can be added to the coolant to protect your engine’s metallic surfaces against corrosion. Over time, these features will degrade as the fluid gets more and more acidic. This deteriorated liquid can trigger severe harm to your engine by failing to control the temperature. Therefore, manufacturers suggest replacing the coolant periodically.

It is recommended you change coolant after the first 210,000 km (140,000 miles) or 120 months, then every 30,000 km (20,000 miles) or 24 months.

Keep in mind there is a possibility the coolant might leak from a worn reservoir. Such leakage can lead to cooling system failure and severe damage to your engine. To avoid this, it is advised to regularly check whether the reservoir shows the proper coolant level or any signs of cracks.

Feb 26, 2018

One of the most common car maintenance questions asked is how often should engine coolant be changed. Here’s a helpful guide explaining what engine coolant is, what it does, how to check it, and when to change it.

What Is Engine Coolant?

Engine coolant is a combination of water and antifreeze and is used to, very simply, cool the engine down to prevent it from overheating. A significant number of engine failures are caused by engine coolant failures. Half of the heat that is produced by car engines stays in the engine. That’s where engine coolant comes in, as the coolant absorbs the heat, so the engine doesn’t overheat.

What Does It Do?

Over time, engine coolant can break down and become electrically charged. The charged coolant is corrosive to the cooling system and will eventually cause leaks. Because of this, it is important to check engine coolant levels twice a year, looking out for a large reduction.

Even if the levels seem OK, it’s always worth testing coolant with either test strips that measure acidity, or with a hydrometer that measures freezing and boiling protection. However, most manufacturers recommend flushing the cooling system and changing the coolant as often as every 30,000 miles regardless to avoid serious problems such as engine failure.

Trust a Professional

If you have any questions regarding your Ford vehicle’s engine coolant, get in touch with a professional. Book a service appointment and let our skilled mechanics take the guesswork out of draining and changing your coolant in order to keep your Ford in top condition.

Photo via Flickr by WalterPro

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There are six types of fluids running inside your vehicle. These fluids are not permanent; they require replacement every now and then as they deteriorate over time as part of general vehicle maintenance. Deterioration causes problems to components affected by the unchanged fluid, and one example of the commonly overlooked fluids is the coolant – when, in fact, it is one of the most crucial as it keeps your engine running in safe temperatures.

When to check on your coolant

Normally, coolant check-up is part of the Preventive Maintenance Service so it’s always best to follow your PMS schedule. Checking the engine coolant depends on the distance you drive on a daily basis. Some service centers recommend checking your coolant once every two weeks, just to be safe.

Although engine coolants last longer than two weeks, it is safe to check for leaks. Low coolant level is a culprit for having a fiery hot hood, as engine heats above allowable temperature. You’d also notice steam sipping out from the engine bay and out of the hood in worse cases, which could also be an early warning to engine overheating. In addition, even your car’s fuel economy is affected by running your car with little to no coolant.

So, when do you change your coolant?

When coolant is not flushed for a long time, or after a certain mileage, the chances of your car overheating increase to a maximum level. There are varying recommendations on when to change your coolant. This depends on the car you’re driving, the brand or type of coolant you use, and the distance you cover over a period of time.

Coolant on more modern cars—although not all—is usually recommended to be flushed out every 10 years or 160,000 km, while some require shorter than that. It’s always good to check with your vehicle manufacturer or your user manual.

What happens when you miss changing your coolant?

Coolant becomes acidic when left in the engine for a very long time. When your coolant becomes acidic, it would no longer keep rust from attacking your engine. Rust on the insides of your engine spells out disaster, as you could face more expensive services just to save your engine from dying—for good. However, it isn’t just your engine that’s at stake. Coolant also keeps your radiators from corrosion so you’re also putting the components of your cooling system at risk.

Common signs that you already need to change coolant

There are initial signs that something’s wrong and your coolant, or cooling system including your air conditioning, needs to be changed. Here are some of the early problems that may arise when you don’t regularly check on your coolant reservoir.

Car overheats quickly – when your car overheats easily, you may want to go get it checked. Overheating is one obvious cause of the coolant not performing its job.
Leak – you should always know that something’s wrong when your vehicle leaves traces of fluid on the floor. Radiator leaks are among the hints that your cooling system is compromised and should undergo a mechanic’s treatment.
Sweet smell when your car’s running – some people describe the smell of coolant, or antifreeze, as sweet syrupy. So, when you started perceiving that kind on smell while you’re driving, schedule for a trip to the mechanic.
Coolant level always depletes – this is why you should always check on your coolant reservoir. Having to top up over and over again means that there is something wrong with your car. It may be a crack on the hoses where the coolant circulates or a probable internal problem.

How long does coolant last in a car?

This deteriorated liquid can trigger severe harm to your engine by failing to control the temperature. Therefore, manufacturers suggest replacing the coolant periodically. It is recommended you change coolant after the first 210,000 km (140,000 miles) or 120 months, then every 30,000 km (20,000 miles) or 24 months.

Does coolant need to be changed?

The simplest way to avoid overheating is to service the system every two years or according to your car manual recommendations. Flushing the coolant and replacing it with fresh fluid every two years or 30,000 miles is a good rule. While you perform this service, inspect the hoses and radiator cap for wear.

How often should you be replacing coolant?

A typical mechanic will recommend changing coolant every 30,000 miles. But many will tell you, changing the coolant is not even on their radar. An owner's manual might recommend changing the coolant/antifreeze after the first 60,000 miles, then every 30,000 miles.

What happens if you never change coolant?

The coolant can become more acidic over time and lose its rust-inhibiting properties, causing corrosion. Corrosion can damage the radiator, water pump, thermostat, radiator cap, hoses and other parts of the cooling system, as well as to the vehicle heater system. And that can cause a car engine to overheat.