When Should I Change My Antifreeze?
When was the last time you checked your antifreeze? Most likely you never really think about it unless something goes wrong. Your antifreeze is vital to your vehicles performance. In fact, without it, your engine would overheat and quit working altogether. So obviously, its important to make sure your antifreeze is clean and that you always have enough of it in your cooling system.
What Does Antifreeze Do?
Just as its name implies, antifreeze protects your engine from freezing up when the weather gets cold. Thanks to this liquid, your engine continues to turn over every time you start your vehicle, even in the most frigid winter temperatures. Nothing is worse than getting stuck in your vehicle somewhere on the side of the road in freezing temperatures.
But antifreeze doesnt just protect your engine from the cold. Its also what keeps your engine from overheating. Your engine gets hot every time you drive and when it does, your antifreeze, also know as coolant, helps keep your engine at the proper temperature. Thats very important because if your engine overheats, it can damage the radiator and other parts of the vehicle. Your engine could even blow if it gets too hot. So obviously, your antifreeze plays a key role in your vehicles performance.
How Often Should You Check Your Antifreeze?
But how often should you check your antifreeze and change it? In most cases, you only need to check your antifreeze a couple of times a year. But if your vehicle has a history of coolant problems then you should check it more often. When you choose to check your antifreeze is up to you. But a good rule of thumb is to check it in the spring and fall, before the weather heats up and cools down, respectively. If it looks good but you notice the level is a little low, simply add a little more fluid to top it off.
This is easy to check. Wait till your vehicle is cooled down and then look at the fluid reservoir container. If its at the full line then youre good to go. If the fluid level is below the fill line then add some more.
When Does it Need to Be Changed?
If you notice that your antifreeze is discolored or is dirty, then you need to change it. Additionally, if your vehicle has been having a harder time starting or its been running hotter than usual, you might also need to change it. You can flush your coolant system yourself. Or you can avoid this hassle and bring it into our shop and have our experienced technicians do it for you. In most cases, getting a coolant flush every 30,000 miles is a good idea. So you can typically plan on having this service done once every two years.
Now Is a Good Time to Check Your Antifreeze
The cold and wet season is coming to the Pacific Northwest. That means, now is a good time to do some vehicle maintenance. That includes checking and possibly changing your antifreeze. If youre not sure how to do this, we can take care of this service for you. It might be time for a full cooing system flush. So bring your vehicle into Hoesly Eco Automotive today and get make sure your antifreeze is ready for the season. We take of all of your auto repair needs in Vancouver WA. So come visit us today in downtown Vancouver. Just call 360-695-5871 or click here to set up an appointment online.
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