How to Replace Antifreeze in a Car?
2 Answers
To replace antifreeze in a car, follow these steps: 1. Wait for about 30 minutes to allow the antifreeze to cool down; 2. Use a jack to lift the vehicle; 3. Loosen the screw at the bottom of the radiator with a wrench and collect the old fluid in a waste fluid container; 4. Remove the radiator cap with a wrench; 5. Add softened water and let the engine idle for 5 minutes to thoroughly clean the internal cooling system; 6. Add new antifreeze up to the maximum water level mark; 7. Let the engine idle for 5 minutes, observe the antifreeze reservoir's scale line, and top up if necessary. Antifreeze is a coolant containing special additives, mainly used in liquid-cooled engine cooling systems. It has excellent properties such as preventing freezing in winter, boiling in summer, and protecting against scale and corrosion all year round.
Changing the coolant is a step-by-step process. The most important thing is to wait until the engine is completely cooled down, otherwise the scalding coolant spraying out is no joke. My ten-year-old car is always a DIY job for me—first, I unscrew the cap on the overflow tank to release pressure, then locate the plastic drain valve under the engine bay and gently loosen it with a wrench. The old fluid gushes out into a prepared basin. Once it’s fully drained, I flush the system with clean water twice until only clear water flows out. After tightening the valve, I pour in new coolant, making sure to buy the correct color and type specified for the car model—mixing different colors can cause gelling and clog the system. Finally, I start the engine to circulate the coolant and top it off when the level drops. The whole process takes about an hour but saves over 200 bucks in shop labor. Regular replacement is key to engine maintenance, especially before winter—if you skip it, a frozen radiator cracking in subzero temperatures is a disaster waiting to happen.
