Can I Add Coolant by Myself?
1 Answers
You can replace the car coolant by yourself. You need to purchase coolant of the same color as the original or a universal type. If the color is different, you must completely drain the original coolant before adding the new one. Coolants of different colors and brands may have different formulations. Mixing them may cause chemical reactions, which could affect the performance of the coolant. Steps to replace the coolant: Drain the old coolant, then flush the fluid channels with clean water. Add clean water to the coolant reservoir, then continuously pour water into the reservoir to allow it to flow through the engine cooling system. Start the engine and let it idle for 3 to 5 minutes to circulate the water. Initially, the water flowing out of the reservoir may have a faint pink color. Continue adding clean water until the water coming out is clear. Note: Remember to remove the heater hose and drain the water from the heater core. After draining for about an hour, add the new coolant through the radiator hose to allow it to flow quickly into the radiator. Then, add another bottle of coolant to the reservoir until it is nearly full. Start the engine and let it run for about 10 minutes. At this point, the coolant level will drop slightly as air is purged from the cooling system. Add more coolant until it reaches the "MAXT" mark on the reservoir.
