Content

• Steps
• Tips
• What do you need

Depending on the climate in which you live, your car's coolant needs to be changed every one to two years. This article will tell you how to do it correctly and safely.

Steps

1. 1 The work is carried out on a cold engine. Open the radiator cap, making sure you have somewhere to drain the fluid, as it is extremely toxic to pets and other animals.
2. 2 From the front of the machine, on the bottom of the radiator, locate the T-screw or faucet. It is called the radiator drain or drain cock.
3. 3 Prepare 2 pallets and a bucket. The bucket will need to be such that about 22 liters of liquid will fit in it, and the pallet will be needed in order not to spill it past.
4. 4 Place a drip tray under the radiator before opening the drain cock. Open the tap by hand or a suitable wrench.
5. 5 Wait for all the liquid to drain into the pan, then close the tap.
6. 6 You will also need to drain the engine block jacket as there are about five liters more. It will also have one or two drain plugs (check your car manual to find out), for which you will need a 3/8 ”hex wrench.
7. 7 There is another way to drain fluid from the cylinder block without looking for plugs on it. Leave the radiator drain plug and drain valve open. Fill the radiator with water while the engine is running. This will push the water through the cylinder block and flush out any remaining fluid. The signal to stop will be the moment when water flows from the radiator drain cock instead of antifreeze.
8. 8 Stop the engine, close the drain cock, fill the radiator and expansion tank with new fluid to the correct level. Start the car and top up if necessary, as it still needs to fill the engine block.
9. 9 An air lock may form in the system, after which you will notice a decrease in the coolant level, and air bubbles may appear in the expansion tank. Continuously monitor the coolant temperature reading as air is forced out of the cooling system.
10. 10 Replace the radiator cap. After this procedure, if you notice engine overheating, add more coolant. Another airlock may have come out of your system.
11. 11 Be prepared to go through this procedure every 1 to 2 years, as coolant plays a critical role in the cooling system of your vehicle. Also, do not be lazy to take the drained antifreeze to an accredited waste disposal station.

Tips

• Put on your old work clothes. It is likely that during this procedure you will spill something on yourself and get dirty.

What do you need

• Radiator
• Coolant
• Car keys