How Often Should Car Antifreeze Be Replaced?
1 Answers
For vehicles that operate for extended periods, such as taxis, high-quality antifreeze generally needs to be replaced once a year. For vehicles with shorter operating times, replacement can be done every two years or every 30,000 kilometers. To prevent excessive foam formation, which reduces the heat exchange efficiency between the antifreeze and engine components, ensure the product is within its validity period when adding it. Long-life antifreeze can have a validity period of up to three years. Method for Replacing Antifreeze: Before completely replacing the antifreeze, conduct a thorough inspection to check for any signs of leaks or cracks in the pipelines, with a focus on the five-way hose. The five-way hose gets its name from having five connection points to various parts. Antifreeze flows through the five-way hose and is then distributed to different parts of the car to function. If there are signs of antifreeze leakage in this section, replace the hose or resecure the connections as needed. Drain the old antifreeze, then flush the fluid channels with clean water. Add clean water to the antifreeze reservoir and continue filling 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. Initially, the water draining from the reservoir will have a faint pink tint. Continue adding clean water until clear water flows out. Note: Do not forget to remove the heater hose and drain the water from the heater core. Approximately one hour after draining, add the new antifreeze through the radiator hose—this ensures the antifreeze flows quickly into the radiator. Then, add another container of antifreeze to the antifreeze reservoir until it is nearly full. Start the engine and let it run for about 10 minutes. During this time, the coolant level will drop slightly as air is purged from the system. Top up the antifreeze until it reaches the "MAXT" mark on the reservoir.
