How Often to Change Coolant
Excessive heat leads to increased wear and tear, which can eventually damage your car's engine. Your cooling system is tasked with keeping everything running cool.
Our article shares more about the all-important coolant that circulates around your Mazda's cooling system, and in particular, we'll answer "how often to change coolant?"
What is Engine Coolant?
Often referred to as antifreeze, coolant is a specialized fluid that circulates through your vehicle's cooling system to maintain the engine's optimal operating temperature. Heat is transferred to the coolant from the hot engine as it circulates and is then dissipated through the radiator.
Typically, engine coolant comprises a mixture of water and glycol, such as ethylene glycol, in a 50/50 ratio mix along with corrosion protection and lubrication additives.
The primary purpose of the coolant is to prevent the cooling system from overheating and causing potentially expensive damage to your vehicle's engine.
Additives prevent corrosion in the cooling system and water passages in the engine block, providing lubrication for components like the water pump.
Importance of Changing Coolant Regularly
Knowing how often to change coolant is crucial for regularly maintaining your engine's cooling system and, ultimately, the longevity of the engine.
Over time, the coolant will break down, reducing its ability to prevent overheating. Old coolant may lead to excessive corrosion within the system and the buildup of rust and scale that can end up clogging the cooling system.
Adhering to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule and conducting regular coolant changes will ensure that your engine's cooling system functions effectively and prevents the engine from freezing in cold weather, overheating, and boiling in extreme driving conditions, along with protecting and extending the lifespan of components like the water pump, water hoses, and gaskets.
Signs You Need to Change Your Coolant
Let's take a look at some telltale signs that owners should look out for that indicate the coolant may need changing.
Engine Overheating
A warning light alert on your dashboard will immediately spell danger when the engine overheats, possibly as a result of low coolant or even a malfunctioning cooling system.
Steam emanating from under the hood is a sure sign that your engine is overheating.
Sweet Smells
If any odd sweet or syrupy smell is detected from under the hood, this can indicate a coolant leak that will need addressing.
Unusual Engine Noises
Any unusual grinding, rattling, or knocking sounds from your car's engine can be indicative of overheating related to coolant system issues.
Discolored Coolant
If a visual inspection of the coolant reveals that the coolant is discolored or contains debris, then a coolant change is needed.
How Often to Change Coolant
The best advice for learning how often to change coolant is to follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule. Owners should consult their owner's manual for the recommended maintenance and coolant change intervals.
Typically, coolant should be changed every two to three years, or around 60,000 miles for older models.
There are, however, some factors that will affect the recommended change interval.
Some modern vehicles make use of extended-life coolants with up to five years or 100,000 miles of working life or even longer.
Driving conditions such as extremely hot climates or freezing temperatures will dictate more frequent coolant changes.
Coolant Flush vs. Coolant Replacement
Generally speaking, a coolant flush is a more thorough coolant replacement process than just a straight coolant replacement.
A coolant flush entails draining all coolant out of the cooling system and makes use of specialized flushing cleaners to remove any rust deposits and debris from the system.
A coolant flush is typically recommended when conducting longer-term maintenance to prevent possible contamination of the new coolant from existing old rust or scale buildup in the coolant system.
A simple coolant replacement, also referred to as a drain and refill, involves replacing the coolant without any additional cleaning or flushing of the system.
How to Change Coolant in Your Car
Once you know how often to change coolant, it's time to perform the needed maintenance. Not all of us may be confident DIYers or have the necessary space or tools to change the coolant in their car, and would need to seek out the services of a suitably certified workshop.
Tackling the job yourself is relatively easy and involves only a few simple steps.
Safety first! Ensure that your car is on a flat and dry surface with the wheels chocked and that you are wearing safety gloves and goggles.
If your car has just been driven, wait for the engine and coolants to cool down before attempting the coolant change, as removing the cap on a hot radiator is extremely dangerous.
Locate the drain plug on the bottom of the radiator and use a pan to catch old coolant once the drain plug has been loosened. Allow the system to drain and retighten the drain plug when the coolant has stopped flowing.
Fill the coolant system with new antifreeze following the instructions on the bottle.
Locate any bleeder screws in the coolant system that must be opened to remove excess air that will cause bubbles in the system.
Coolant Types and Compatibility
There are different types of coolants with different ingredients designed for various engine and manufacturer applications.
Mixing of incompatible coolants can cause engine damage, so it's best practice to use the coolant recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer that meets OEM specs.
Tips for Maintaining Optimal Engine Performance
Maintaining optimal engine performance not only relies on knowing how often to change coolant and efficiently operating the coolant system but also on regular maintenance that includes oil changes, air filter replacement, and spark plug inspections.
Owners should also ensure that quality fuels are used when filling up, plus regular checks of all fluid levels are carried out.
Environmental and Safety Concerns
Always clean up any coolant spills when performing a coolant change, as the ingredients are harmful.
There are laws governing the disposal of coolant fluids that vary by jurisdiction. Be sure to follow the regulations of where you reside.
Remember, the ingredients in coolants are extremely hazardous and deadly to pets and humans if ingested, and as such, cannot be simply flushed down your toilet or emptied into a drain like a dead pet goldfish.
Get a Coolant Change at Central Mazda
After learning how often to change coolant, you might find it's time for your vehicle to get serviced. Be sure to contact the service team at Central Mazda in Plainfield, CT, to get your Mazda booked for its next coolant change service.
Central Mazda's Mazda-trained technicians offer the most convenient service experience possible to keep your Mazda running just the same as when you first drove it off the showroom floor.
