Should You Top Up or Replace the Coolant When It's Low?
1 Answers
If the coolant level is low but still within its warranty period, the car owner can simply top it up. However, if the coolant is low and no longer within the warranty period, the remaining coolant should be drained and replaced with new coolant. Coolant Replacement Method: Before completely replacing the coolant, conduct a thorough inspection to check for any leaks or cracks in the pipes, with particular attention to the five-way hose. The five-way hose is named for its five connection points to various parts of the car. Coolant flows through the five-way hose and is distributed to different parts of the vehicle to function. If there is any leakage of coolant in this section, replace the hose or re-secure the connections as needed. Drain the old coolant and then flush the liquid channels with clean water. Add clean water to the coolant reservoir and continue filling it until water flows continuously 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 tint. Continue adding clean water until the outflowing water 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 container of coolant to the 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 cooling system. Top up the coolant again until it reaches the "MAX" mark on the reservoir.
