The process of exchanging old engine coolant within your cooling system with new coolant using specialized equipment. Your cooling system will also be pressure tested at the same time to detect any possible leaks.
Engine coolant contains anti-freeze, anti-boil and anticorrosive properties; however, over time these properties break down and sludge, scale and rust begins to form. In time, these formations clog the tiny passages within the radiator and heater, causing reduced coolant flow which in turn may result in poor interior cabin heating (in winter) and insufficient engine cooling and possible overheating (in summer).
Every 40, 000 km.
Description:
The most common formulation of antifreeze is green in color and uses ethylene glycol as a base with anti-corrosion additives mixed in. The ethylene glycol part of the formula provides crucial anti-freezing characteristics and the additives deliver the anti-rust and anti-corrosion capabilities. Beginning with 1995 models, most GM vehicles started coming from the factory filled with an extended-life antifreeze, trademarked as DEX-COOL®. Distinctively different in appearance, DEX-COOL®, and its aftermarket equivalents, is an orange/amber color. It still uses ethylene glycol as a base, but contains a different additive package than standard green-coloured antifreeze. This coolant is designed to protect cooling systems for up to 225,000 kilometres or five years. Other antifreeze formulations include silicate-free for Japanese cars and phosphate-free for European cars.
Purpose:
When properly mixed, antifreeze and water provide excellent anti-freeze, anti-boil and anticorrosive properties.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
Check your owner’s manual for antifreeze usage specifications. Antifreeze, when mixed at a 50/50 ratio with water, provides excellent anti-freeze, anti-boil, and anti-corrosive properties. In extremely cold environments, the ratio for standard ethylene glycol can go as high as 70% antifreeze, 30% water. With DEX-COOL®, the maximum ratio of antifreeze to water is 60/40. Although DEX-COOL® type antifreeze can be mixed with standard ethylene glycol antifreeze, DEX-COOL® loses its 5 yr./225,000 life. As such, it’s best not to mix antifreeze types unless absolutely necessary.
All coolants must be diluted with water at the proper ratios and should not be used full-strength. Full-strength antifreeze actually has a lower freeze point than when mixed with water. Generally, standard ethylene glycol type antifreeze should be changed every two years or 40,000 kilometres. Even though the coolant freeze protection may test OK with a hydrometer (freeze protection only drops with extreme dilution, not with age), the additives break down over time.
When changing coolant, it also presents an opportune time to replace bad cooling system hoses. Leaking, brittle, spongy, cracked, or rotted hoses should be replaced before new antifreeze is installed. Hose clamp connections should also be checked to ensure that they're secure and free from leaks.
