Do New Cars Need to Change Antifreeze in Winter?
3 Answers
New cars do not need to change antifreeze in winter. Because new cars come with factory-installed antifreeze, it is usually sufficient to replace the antifreeze every two years or every 30,000 kilometers. The method for replacing antifreeze is as follows: Before completely replacing the antifreeze, conduct a thorough inspection to check for any signs of leakage or cracks in the pipes, with a focus on the five-way water pipe. Antifreeze flows through the five-way pipe and is then distributed to different parts of the car to function. If there is any leakage of antifreeze in this section, the hose should be replaced or the connection re-secured as needed. Drain the old antifreeze, then flush the liquid channels with clean water. Add clean water to the antifreeze reservoir and continue filling the reservoir until water flows continuously through the engine cooling system. Then, start the engine and let it idle for 3 to 5 minutes to circulate the water. The water initially flowing out of the reservoir will 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 antifreeze through the radiator hose. Then, add another bottle of antifreeze to the antifreeze 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 expelled from the cooling system. Add more antifreeze until the level reaches the "MAXT" mark on the reservoir.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I can tell you that new cars generally don't require antifreeze replacement in winter. Manufacturers fill them with properly proportioned coolant that provides freeze and boil protection for a year or two. Only in extremely cold regions (like -30°C) should you worry about it. When I bought my new car, I never touched the coolant during winter, even on long trips. However, watch out for this: if a new car sits in storage too long, the antifreeze may degrade. Before winter, check its concentration—just use an inexpensive test strip. If it's low, top up with a distilled water-antifreeze mix rather than replacing it entirely. Otherwise, engine freeze damage could cost thousands in repairs—a real wallet-emptier. Monitoring temperature gauges and maintenance alerts is smarter—it's both hassle-free and safer.
When I was young and just started driving, I was curious about why new cars need antifreeze in winter. Later, I asked a mechanic friend and learned that new cars don’t need an immediate change—the factory-fitted antifreeze is brand-new and lasts a long time. But if you live in a cold area like Northeast China, first check if the concentration is low enough to prevent freezing. Just use an antifreeze tester for a quick check. If the concentration is normal, leave it alone to avoid wasting money and time—wouldn’t it be better to save that money for a full tank of gas? Only top it up with a mix if the concentration is insufficient. A word of caution: don’t be careless. Frozen engine pipes can burst, leading to major losses. I once saw a friend have this accident when I was a beginner, and since then, I’ve made it a habit to check before winter.
