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.
