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Replacing your car's coolant
It can be very easy to forget how long your coolant has been in your car. Ideally, it should be replaced every 5 or so years because without proper temperature and corrosion inhibitors, you could end up with corroded parts or an over heating engine.
It is supprisingly easy to renew your coolant, this tutorial will only cover a partial renewal; as a full renewal requires you to remove the thermostat and blank it off, which requires several different procedures depending on your engine.
Symptoms of poor coolant condition:
What you need:
The cost:
The only thing you need to buy is the coolant
Procedure:
Firstly: Make sure the car has been left standing and not running for a minimum of an hour, otherwise the engine bay and coolant will be too hot to work with.
Antifreeze is extremely toxic to both people and animals, it smells sweet and can also taste sweet, however if ingested it can result in death. You must make sure that any spilt antifreeze is thoroughly rinsed away with water. Also, once finished you should transfer your old mixture to a sealed container a label it accordingly, then if you call up your local council you can arrange for it to be disposed of correctly.
If ingested seek medical attention immediately.
Before preceding you should also check to see if any hoses need replacing if they are cracked or split.
Step 1:
Jack the front of the vehicle up enough to fit the container underneath with some extra room.
Step 2:
Place the car on axle stands and lower the jack on to them - just in case!
Step 3:
Open the bonnet and using a wad of towel slowly undo the coolant header tank.
Warning: This is a high pressure system, you must make sure the engine is cool enough to work on and undo the cap slowly to allow the pressure to release gradually.
You will get some hissing and eventually it will fade away, keep turning the cap until fully removed. Leave the cap off.
Step 4:
Make sure the container/bucket is placed at the bottom of the left side of the radiator. Put on your latex gloves. Using the grips, manipulate the clip on the left bottom radiator hose and pull it all the way back.
Gently wiggle the hose off the radiator, when the hose comes off there will be a lot of liquid coming out so be prepared to catch as much of it as you can in the container. Allow to drain for 5 minutes.
Step 5:
Using the garden hose, rise off any coolant spilt on paint work or chassis or floor.
Also at this stage you can optionally use the hose to flush the radiator through by removing the top left radiator hose and flushing water through until clear water appears from the bottom connector.
Step 6:
Using some paper towel, dry off the radiator connectors and then replace the radiator hoses - making sure the white line, lines up with the raised lump on the connectors. Then manoeuvre the clips back into their original place.
Move the bucket/container with antifreeze out of the way of the car.
Step 7:
Jack the car up and remove the axle stands. Then gently lower the car.
Step 8:
Using the funnel, slowly fill the header tank with the new coolant to the Kalt/Cold marking. Remove the funnel so you can see inside.
Get your hand around the top left radiator hose and squeeze and release it until air bubbles stop coming up in the header tank. The level should drop quite a bit.
Repeat this step until the header tank stays at the Kalt/Cold marking, this should help to remove most of the air in the system.
Step 9:
Replace the header tank cap and tighten it. Start the car up and allow it to get to normal running temperatures (about 90), look at the tank and make sure you can see some movement of fluids.
At this point check for leaking around any disturbed parts.
Turn the car off, and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Check the level of the coolant and remove the cap (remember to be careful).
If the level has dropped, repeat step 8 and 9 until the level does not drop.
Otherwise tighten the cap and close the bonnet.
Clear up everything, making sure you transfer the coolant into a sealed labelled container and dispose of correctly. Wash down any spilt antifreeze with lots of water.
Step 10:
Have a cup of tea.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
It can be very easy to forget how long your coolant has been in your car. Ideally, it should be replaced every 5 or so years because without proper temperature and corrosion inhibitors, you could end up with corroded parts or an over heating engine.
It is supprisingly easy to renew your coolant, this tutorial will only cover a partial renewal; as a full renewal requires you to remove the thermostat and blank it off, which requires several different procedures depending on your engine.
Symptoms of poor coolant condition:
- Car heats up quickly to 100 degrees
- Colour of coolant is merky or discoloured
- Car takes a long time to cool down when fan is engaged
What you need:
- You will need a bucket/container capable of holding at least 6 litres (check your manual to ensure this is big enough, aim for 1 litre above what your car holds), and preferably very wide rather than deep.
- A pair of grips.
- 5lt (check your manual to ensure this is enough) of Premixed coolant with antifreeze (for ease) available from Halfords.
- A car jack and some axle stands.
- Lots of old towels/paper towel.
- A usable garden hose pipe
- Some latex gloves
- Funnel (optional)
The cost:
The only thing you need to buy is the coolant
Procedure:
Firstly: Make sure the car has been left standing and not running for a minimum of an hour, otherwise the engine bay and coolant will be too hot to work with.
Antifreeze is extremely toxic to both people and animals, it smells sweet and can also taste sweet, however if ingested it can result in death. You must make sure that any spilt antifreeze is thoroughly rinsed away with water. Also, once finished you should transfer your old mixture to a sealed container a label it accordingly, then if you call up your local council you can arrange for it to be disposed of correctly.
If ingested seek medical attention immediately.
Before preceding you should also check to see if any hoses need replacing if they are cracked or split.
Step 1:
Jack the front of the vehicle up enough to fit the container underneath with some extra room.
Step 2:
Place the car on axle stands and lower the jack on to them - just in case!
Step 3:
Open the bonnet and using a wad of towel slowly undo the coolant header tank.
Warning: This is a high pressure system, you must make sure the engine is cool enough to work on and undo the cap slowly to allow the pressure to release gradually.
You will get some hissing and eventually it will fade away, keep turning the cap until fully removed. Leave the cap off.
Step 4:
Make sure the container/bucket is placed at the bottom of the left side of the radiator. Put on your latex gloves. Using the grips, manipulate the clip on the left bottom radiator hose and pull it all the way back.
Gently wiggle the hose off the radiator, when the hose comes off there will be a lot of liquid coming out so be prepared to catch as much of it as you can in the container. Allow to drain for 5 minutes.
Step 5:
Using the garden hose, rise off any coolant spilt on paint work or chassis or floor.
Also at this stage you can optionally use the hose to flush the radiator through by removing the top left radiator hose and flushing water through until clear water appears from the bottom connector.
Step 6:
Using some paper towel, dry off the radiator connectors and then replace the radiator hoses - making sure the white line, lines up with the raised lump on the connectors. Then manoeuvre the clips back into their original place.
Move the bucket/container with antifreeze out of the way of the car.
Step 7:
Jack the car up and remove the axle stands. Then gently lower the car.
Step 8:
Using the funnel, slowly fill the header tank with the new coolant to the Kalt/Cold marking. Remove the funnel so you can see inside.
Get your hand around the top left radiator hose and squeeze and release it until air bubbles stop coming up in the header tank. The level should drop quite a bit.
Repeat this step until the header tank stays at the Kalt/Cold marking, this should help to remove most of the air in the system.
Step 9:
Replace the header tank cap and tighten it. Start the car up and allow it to get to normal running temperatures (about 90), look at the tank and make sure you can see some movement of fluids.
At this point check for leaking around any disturbed parts.
Turn the car off, and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Check the level of the coolant and remove the cap (remember to be careful).
If the level has dropped, repeat step 8 and 9 until the level does not drop.
Otherwise tighten the cap and close the bonnet.
Clear up everything, making sure you transfer the coolant into a sealed labelled container and dispose of correctly. Wash down any spilt antifreeze with lots of water.
Step 10:
Have a cup of tea.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
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