Car Coolant Question

[stang]

Ricosuave has some really good advice... DOnt get them to flush it... they are just trying to get more money out of you. (not that coolant doesnt need flushing from time to time, but the thought of flushing it because your AF to water ratio isnt right is just ######ed)

Dont worry about the drain plug on the bottom of the radiator... you dont want to be messing around trying to get a bucket under there in minus thirty weather.

Use a turkey baster to suck out some coolant, and fill with straight anitfreeze.

If you feel you DO need to change all (well most) of the coolant out, dont shell out $100...Just wait until summer and do it when its nice... its pretty easy to do on your own while drinking some brewski's on a hot day.

[burn_this_city]

Usually the manufacturers will put a relief on the side of the overflow to release any extra. As the car gets warmer and the pressure increases it will force any additional coolant into the overflow. If there is too much it will go out a little hose on the side down to the street. Brand new vehicles may not have the relief on the overflow, but a 98 definitely should..

Finner if you're rad explodes due to my advice I'll drive from Calgary to change it for you

[Finner]

Thanks a ton for all the help guys. I knew CP would be a good place to go.

[stang]

Oh dont use your baster on Turkeys after... Just go to the dollar store and get a new one.

Antifreeze is poisonous.. (and tastes very sweet so dont let any animals/kids go around it)

[4X4]

The cooling system is pressurized, but the overflow reservoir is not. You can add as much as you want to it and all that will happen is if the fluid gets hot and expands, it will pour out of the overflow and on to the ground. Which is not cool. Because dogs will lick it up and die. Don't kill dogs.
But the point is that there's no need to be fooling around with the drain plug or a turkey baster. Just add some straight coolant. Be careful, if it's cheap, it's probably pre-mixed with water. That would totally defeat the purpose. But add a liter to your overflow and you'll be fine. The people at Mr. Lube are using some $5 antifreeze tester that is total bullsh1t. I got taught the same thing when I worked at a gas station. It's a rip off. But getting your cooling system FLUSHED is a good thing to do every so often, especially on older vehicles. But make sure they're actually flushing the system and not just draining it and filling it up with new fluid. That's like changing the oil but not the filter.

[4X4]

Just want to add that the drain plug and the turkey baster is obviously the proper way to do it, but if you aren't very car suave, then there's no need to get complicated when there's a really easy way to do it. This is like playing tabs. It still works, but it's not the 'real' way to play.

[BlackArcher101]

Before you do anything rash like taking it to Mr Lube (shudder, I did that mistake once), test your coolant mix yourself first. Use something like this:


What Mr Lube told you could be part of a sales gimmick. They are well known for that. I also don't recommend going to Mr Lube as they can never operate the flushing machine correctly.

[PIMking]

jiffy lube and other quick lube places will do this to earn more money.

Antifreeze will need to be flushed every 60k miles or so. I do mine every winter in my sports car. My car only sees the road maybe 300 miles in the winter or around that due to road salt. The best bet is to get a tool like the op above me shown you.

Not to mention if your anti freeze is old it wont protect agianst freezing but it also wont protect your internal parts of the motor like water pump. Because it will turn acidic over time and that is a big problem. what color is your coolant now?