How often should the antifreeze in a sedan be replaced?
2 Answers
Sedan antifreeze should be replaced every 40,000 kilometers. The steps for replacing antifreeze are: 1. Open the vehicle's engine hood, and the antifreeze reservoir can be seen in the upper right corner; 2. Open the antifreeze plug under the radiator to drain the old antifreeze; 3. Add new antifreeze, tighten the cap, and the antifreeze replacement is complete. The functions of antifreeze are: 1. To provide anti-corrosion protection for the engine's cooling system; 2. To prevent water from boiling when the engine temperature reaches 100 degrees Celsius; 3. To prevent the formation of scale, avoiding the reduction of the radiator's cooling effect; 4. To ensure the engine operates normally at low temperatures.
I've been driving a family sedan for over a decade, and based on my experience, the coolant replacement cycle is typically every two to five years. But this isn't a hard rule—it depends on the specific vehicle and usage. My Volkswagen's manual states that the factory coolant should be changed every five years, but since I'm in northern winters, I check it myself every three years. Aged coolant becomes cloudy or changes color, and testing its freezing point is crucial; a simple tester costs just ten bucks. If you don't change it, the acid can corrode the radiator and water pump, leading to engine overheating and breakdown. Once on a long business trip, my aged coolant nearly ruined the engine, costing me 800 RMB in repairs. I recommend having the shop check it during every maintenance visit. For frequent short trips, more frequent checks are safer—prevention is better than cure. Don't risk big trouble to save small money.
