How much antifreeze is needed for a complete replacement. How to replace antifreeze: complete instructions. How to drain old antifreeze

Frequency and timing of antifreeze replacement: when should I change it?

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The constant renewal of cooling water is simply necessary in the car for its normal operation, every driver knows this. But through How many km and time it is necessary to change the antifreeze? We will try to give detailed answers to this and other questions. To avoid overheating of the motor, all vehicle manufacturers advise changing the fluid every 45 thousand km. Mechanics at 100 say that it is best to change it once a year so that corrosion does not form on the walls of the radiator. But this is faster than already outdated advice, because once a year new modern tools appear on the market, which are enough for a run of 100 to 250 thousand km. This means that the interval for replacing antifreeze will be even longer. But manufacturers claim that the latest coolant should be poured exclusively into a clean system so that it does not mix with the remnants of the past, otherwise its physico-chemical characteristics will decrease. That is why the replacement of greenish antifreeze with blue, even if of the same brand, is not recommended.

Coolant replacement. Vaz 2114

In this video we'll see how replace coolant on the VAZ 2114. Doing it yourself will not take you any trouble.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CHANGE THE ANTIFREEZE?

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So, when it's time to change the antifreeze to a new antifreeze, we have already figured it out. Consider the replacement process itself in more detail. It is worth doing this when the engine is cold, and it is dangerous to carry out such a procedure on a hot engine. Remove the radiator cap, then find its drain cap, open it and place a container under it. Drain the residue and then inspect the cooling system hoses for breaks and cracks. If necessary, change the hoses. Next, flush the system to remove all deposits, rust and grease that cannot be easily removed with plain water. To do this, use a special washing agent. When pouring it into the radiator, add demineralized and deionized water to the very brim and close the cap.

The next step is to turn on the stove and engine and wait until they heat up. After that, turn them off and let them cool, and then remove the cap from the radiator and drain all the mixture from it, then fill the system with ordinary water, close the radiator cap again and turn on the engine for 15 minutes. Let it cool down, drain the water from the cooling system, and only then can you fill in a new product.

Express replacement antifreeze from CJSC Tekhnologiya Teplo

Express antifreeze replacement can be carried out according to plan, ahead of schedule and in unforeseen cases. With the help of modern equipment, Tekhnologiya Teplo will help you to make an express filling of a new product professionally and quickly. Our experts know where to connect equipment for replacing antifreeze so that air does not occur in the cooling system. With the classic scheme, in 60% of cases, the old coolant partially remains in the radiator if it is simply drained. It happens that the drain bolt sticks and can break off if filled from the head of the engine block. Our employees can perform a complete and thorough flushing of the cooling system in just 40 minutes. At the same time, they will carry out its diagnostics at the same time. The cost of replacing G11 G12 antifreeze at the service is not very high, so feel free to trust this procedure to an experienced mechanic!

Why are our clients always satisfied with cooperation?

Tekhnologiya Teplo company offers its customers a complete list of products from leading manufacturers of lubricants and coolants for cars different brands. We can also help with filling in a new fluid, we will do this work quickly, and in the next couple of years you will completely forget about this issue. Our experts can always tell you if a complete replacement of antifreeze is needed on Japanese cars or trucks. How often should it be produced and which manufacturer's products should you pay attention to.

Timing antifreeze replacements completely depend on what color composition you choose, and it is selected taking into account what metal the cooling system and the engine are made of - brass, copper or aluminum. Fill the product always according to the manufacturer's recommendations, usually this information is located on the label. Its concentration in the system should not be more than 70%, ideal option a mixture with water 50% to 50% is considered. After a few days, it is advisable to check the coolant level in the system and, if necessary, add it.

Antifreezes are called liquid substances characterized by low freezing points. The area of use of such liquids is installations that exploited in low temperature conditions, most often - as an anti-icing agent in aviation and also for cooling internal combustion engines in cars. Made from water, ethylene - and propylene glycol, glycerine and monohydric alcohols , the mixture is used for cooling motors , its main advantage is a lower freezing point than water , as well as a low coefficient of expansion during freezing . It is about 1.5%, i.e. e . even if the antifreeze crystallizes, then special harm structural he will not apply materials.

what is this liquid and why is it needed

Antifreeze of different brands enters the distribution network, which differ in quality, care for car parts (aggressiveness), boiling and freezing temperatures, color (may be red, green, blue).

If we take into account anti-corrosion additives, then silicate or carboxylate varieties may be present in antifreeze. It should be noted that when using silicate antifreeze, over time, the entire inner surface of the cooling system is covered with scale, respectively - there is a decrease in heat transfer, i.e. the cooling efficiency coefficient drops.

C silicate antifreeze can be distinguished by its blue or green color.

Antifreeze created on a carboxylate basis contains special anti-corrosion additives , which are products of processing of organic acids . Accumulation of these additives, which are corrosion inhibitors, are precisely those areas that can potentially suffer from corrosion, while in the process of adsorption on the fragments of parts, several layers of protection are formed, with a thickness of less than 0.1 microns.

Life time carboxylate product is 5 years, which is 2 years more duration the expiration date of the silicate analogue, it has higher washing qualities. When replacing carboxylate antifreeze, it is not necessary to flush the cooling system.

As a rule, the color of the commercially available carboxylate product is red.

Where is antifreeze poured

According to the model and design of the car, antifreeze should be filled

into a container expansion tank

or directly into the radiator.

Work should be done carefully, it is advisable to use a watering can and avoid spilling liquid.

Slow filling of the container will minimize the risk of air pockets.

Why you need to change antifreeze

In order for the car to work flawlessly, it is required to replace antifreeze in a timely manner. Terms for replacing antifreeze are conditioned firstly, by the presence in its composition anti-corrosion additives. As long as these substances are present in sufficient quantities, replacement can be omitted.

A decrease in concentration to a certain level or their complete absence is a signal that replacement should be done urgently. Naturally, to find out the real number anti-corrosion additives will need to be carried out periodically diagnostic Events .

Waiting for the moment when corrosion begins to corrode engine parts is undesirable.

When to change antifreeze, signs of replacing antifreeze

If you follow the instructions for operating cars, then you should replace the antifreeze after every 45-50 thousand kilometers. km run. In the event that modern cooling liquids are used, which are distinguished by high cost, then they are replaced less frequently. According to the manufacturers - not earlier than after 100 thousand km. km run.

alarming symptoms that suggest the need to replace antifreeze are considered:

change in the color of the liquid to a darker one and its turbidity
damage to the cooling system and leakage of antifreeze.

Coolant replacement will also be required in the event of an engine overhaul in which the antifreeze was drained.

Test strips for antifreeze, how to use them

To diagnose the qualitative composition of antifreeze, special test strips are used. to purchase them, you will need to visit an auto parts store or a branded car service station.

Rules for the use of test strips are written directly on their packaging, there is also a scale by which you can determine the chemical composition of the antifreeze in the cooling system.

What antifreeze to choose for your car

Choosing the right antifreeze is not easy, there is a fairly large offer on the modern market. To make the right choice, you will need to initially decide what kind of product will be used, antifreeze or antifreeze.

Most motorists prefer antifreeze, as a better and more modern tool.

Antifreezes have special characteristics:

have a beneficial effect on the operation of the vehicle's propulsion system
prolong its life
allow exploit cars in extreme conditions
increase performance engine
save operational performance over a wide temperature range

To the sales network of antifreeze come in the form:

ready to use solution
concentrate, which will need to be dissolved in distilled water .

Operational the characteristics of both liquids will be the same, but the concentrate is more convenient to store, because. its volume is much smaller.

Watch a video about different types antifreeze and their features:

How much antifreeze does a car need

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how much antifreeze will need to be poured into the car. As for the general rules for servicing the cooling system, it can be noted that the average amount of coolant will have a volume of about 10 liters. Exactly how much fluid is required when replacing.

More detailed information on the required amount of antifreeze can be obtained by studying instructions from car manufacturers.

How to drain old antifreeze

For the replacement of antifreeze, you can contact the specialists of the station maintenance, but you can try to do the procedure yourself.

Since the composition of the liquid includes harmful substances, then work should be done:

in a well ventilated area
children or pets should not be near
it is forbidden to drain waste from the cooling system into open water
it is forbidden to pour it on the ground near wells or columns, other sources of drinking or technical water

All work on the replacement of antifreeze should be carried out only on a cooled engine.

The area under the car must be horizontal, this will allow you to clearly assess the level of liquid in the cooling system.

The algorithm for doing the work is as follows:

In order not to harm the environment, you should find a suitable container and install it under the drain.
Next, you should open the valve for draining the liquid from the cooling system, on some cars you will need to remove the pipes, you should not rush here, careful calm actions will prevent the liquid from spilling and flowing out out of control flow
When draining is complete, open the lid. expansion tank .

It is advisable to inspect the hoses and pipes of the cooling system, if any defects such as breaks or cracks are found, they will need to be replaced.

At the end of the work, close the taps or tighten the pipe

How and with what to flush the cooling system

If you need to replace one type of antifreeze with another, you will need to flush the cooling system. Washing is carried out with special means.

The flushing liquid is poured into expansion tank, its volume should correspond spilled used antifreeze. Next, the engine starts duration his work should be about 10 minutes.

Then you will need to wait for the engine to cool down, drain the liquid that was used as a flush, in the same way that the used antifreeze was drained.

Depending on how many impurities will be in the drained liquid, it may be necessary to repeat the procedure. Remove residual washing liquid by washing with water.

Flushing can only be abandoned if the new antifreeze has the same brand and made topics same manufacturer, what And old.

How pour new antifreeze

Front filling fresh cooling liquids recommended explore recommendations manufacturers car.

Algorithm action next:

Flood antifreeze should from using watering cans — this will warn strait liquids. Pouring should slowly, big pressure maybe become cause appearance air traffic jams.
At pouring liquids should remember, what her level not must exceed mark « minimum«.
After filling would need spin cover tank, run motor about on the 10 minutes, at this necessary observe behind change level liquids.
At fall level antifreeze topped up before marks « minimum«.

Then turn on engine, allow to him dial necessary temperature. Further check condition systems cooling And level antifreeze. Unacceptable, to level liquids decreased under mark « minimum«.

If terms fulfilled — can calmly sit down behind steering wheel.

Specialists warn: in time work motor cover expansion tank open it is forbidden neither in who case! splashing liquids maybe become cause burn skin.

How delete air from systems cooling

Warn occurrence Problems always simpler, how Then correct her consequences, after all presence air traffic jams will lead to deterioration cooling characteristics systems.

To at pouring antifreeze in system cooling not appeared air traffic jams recommended:

at pouring antifreeze put automobile on the overpass so way, to front his was above
flood liquid should slowly, this will warn appearance big air traffic jams
bay part antifreeze, include engine, but also stove, these actions will promote displacement available in system bubbles air.

Then would need add liquid before necessary level. Make sure, what level antifreeze not fell recommended later couple days, in case needs liquid topped up.

How discover level antifreeze

Recommended minimum twice on the throughout of the year check conformity volume antifreeze in system cooling engine car.

Tem not less, experienced drivers advise realize inspection expansion tank more often, at everyone opening bonnet — too much already big role in work engine plays system his cooling. Tem more what examination not takes many time, enough will couples minutes.

If model car provides Availability expansion tank then would need make sure in volume, what level liquids located between labels, relevant minimum And maximum testimony.

Insofar as myself tank made from transparent plastic, but cooling liquid painted in definite color, then at examination not would need open tank — level liquids Great viewed outside.

If expansion tank missing — would need take off cover radiator And look on the what level located liquid.

Fulfill verification should on the cooled down engine. Hot antifreeze It has much more volume, how cold, T.e. information, received at examination tank in warmed up able, not will correspond reality.

IN volume case, if to attempt research hot liquid directly in radiator much increases a threat injury — hot antifreeze maybe splash out across neck radiator, at hit his on the skin may arise burns.

The best time for checks level antifreeze — morning, behind night automobile cool down in sufficient degree.

Practical tips for determining the level of antifreeze - on the video:

At verification level in cistern — optimal will finding level liquids between marks minimum And maximum on the walls. At verification in radiator navigate should on label, located in bottom parts neck.

Insufficient number cooling liquids maybe to be fraught with suction in system air, what will call promotion pressure in her at heating, but also will cause promotion temperature most engine. How result — occurrence threats breakdown branch pipe or extrusion liquids from tank.

Too much tall level maybe lead to outflow from tank some parts antifreeze.

Fulfilling pouring antifreeze on one's own required maximum carefully relate to performed work And follow advice experienced drivers, this will help contain your auto in ideal able at will save you from possible injuries.

One of common causes the occurrence of car breakdowns right during the journey is precisely a failure in the operation of the vehicle’s cooling system (and, consequently, in the functioning of the motor). Nevertheless, an impressive number of car owners continue to neglect the significance of this problem.

The proposed review article will help analyze what role antifreeze (or coolant) plays in the full operation of the car; how to choose the right car product and replace it yourself at home (taking into account why such a need arose).

Why do you need antifreeze in a car

The key purpose of the coolant (or coolant) is to reduce the level of thermal effects on components and other engine parts internal combustion installed in an automobile vehicle during its operation. Moving in a vicious circle with the help of a centrifugal pump, directly touching the walls of the cylindrical engine block (where the temperature of the combustible fuel reaches the maximum level of degrees Celsius), the antifreeze, cooling in the radiator, through a special cavity (“cooling jacket” of the power structure) takes heat and removes its excesses from the engine cylinder system. An expansion tank in the cooling mechanism is provided for the "cooler" reserve.

Did you know? The word "land" in the name of the car Land cruiser Toyota manufacturer took over from another company for the production of cars - Land Rover, and until 1954 this model was called Toyota BJ. Antifreeze for such SUVs is selected depending on the modification.

In order for the engine to cool faster, 2 coolant options are used: distilled water and antifreeze. Water, necessarily purified, is the cheapest and non-toxic method with the highest heat capacity (the amount of heat required to heat a certain body) and a good ability to cool. Antifreeze, on the other hand, is an element that is not easy in terms of chemical structure, which has a high boiling point and immunity to critically low ambient temperatures (from minus 40 to minus 70).

In the engine cooling mechanism of current cars, water is not used on an ongoing basis due to its low practicality in the cold season. We are talking about freezing already at zero temperature, growth in volume by 10%, followed by transformation into a solid state of aggregation. Thus, under such circumstances, water can no longer carry out the main function - limiting the motor from heat. Ice crystals, formed in the vehicle cooling mechanism, have every chance to “harm” the components and parts of the motor, destroying cylindrical blocks and heads.

The composition of the antifreeze fluid includes 2 basic components: water and polyatomic alcohols (ethylene or propylene glycol), which have a specific ability to expand their volume when heated (and this is one of the most important functions of a refrigerant for automotive system cooling).

The density of propylene glycol is lower and the viscosity is higher than that of ethylene glycol. Thus, the former is less toxic. Unfortunately, the latter quality, when exposed to external sub-zero temperatures on the internal combustion unit, provokes a drop in the rate of circulation of the liquid through the auto cooling mechanism, negatively affecting the efficiency of its main functions.
In the structure of antifreeze, in addition to water and polyhydric alcohols, as a rule, there are various additives that improve the working properties of the product: suppression of the start of corrosion in the form of rust on metal surfaces, boiling when the maximum temperature level is reached, destruction of rubber elements, creation of steam condensate.

Important!The quality, service life and cost of the coolant depend on which additives were added.

How often does it need to be replaced

Most often, the need to replace antifreeze in a car depends on the quality and type of fluid. Its factory life is also important. The procedure for changing the refrigerant in the cooling system is performed in three cases:

planned

The timing of the planned replacement depends on the following indicators:

type of antifreeze;
advisory instructions in documents on the use of a particular car model;
the working properties of the coolant after the expiration of suitability (on average, after 4-5 years it loses its ability to resist the occurrence of rust, can boil at relatively low internal temperatures, removes heat worse from structures and elements of aggregate installations).

Prematurely, or ahead of schedule

It is used in case of a structural failure of the motor or a violation of the tightness of the cooling system, and therefore, when gases enter from exhaust pipe or outside air into the antifreeze. You can notice these deviations when the frequency of turning on the radiator fan has increased, and at a temperature of minus 15 Celsius, sediment or jelly-like deposits are noticeable on the walls and bottom of the expansion tank.

Due to an emergency

Antifreeze is replaced if the cooling system hose bursts, and the liquid decreases in volume due to leakage. The driver in emergency mode has to bring the amount of fluid in the system to its original level, and, as practice shows, this is most often done with tap water. However, compared with purified distilled, the latter contains a considerable amount of salt compounds, which, when interacting with coolant additives, activate the occurrence of corrosion processes and the formation of sediment.
The flow of refrigerant through the system becomes more difficult, and the efficiency of heat removal from the motor components decreases. Consequently, the latter is overheated. That is why, at the first opportunity, it will be necessary to carry out a complete replacement of antifreeze, before that, flushing the mechanism with distilled water.

Did you know? According to Mercedes-Benz, the Greek taxi driver Gregorios Sachinides broke the record for mileage on cars of its brand. During the 23 years of operation of his 1976 model 240 D vehicle, he drove 4.6 million km on it (this is 200 thousand km / year, about 20 thousand km / month and approximately 700 km / day). In 2004, the owner handed over his car to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, located in the city of Stuttgart (Germany), and received a new one in return.

The main procedures for caring for the cooling system, which prevent premature and emergency replacement of antifreeze, are:

timely washing of the cooling mechanism, as well as replacement of the refrigerant;
regular monitoring of the level of the cooling liquid in the tank;
periodic inspection of the elements of the cooling system for malfunctions: hoses (they should not be swollen), belts (do not allow excessive wear and damage to the latter) and radiator (it should not leak).

How to choose the right one when buying

If you are going to purchase a high-quality refrigerant for the cooling system of your car, then you must first of all pay attention to the recommendations for operating your car from the manufacturer. To do this, you should carefully study the documents on vehicle: they must necessarily indicate which antifreezes can be directly used to cool the engine of your car.
If you cannot find a similar factory fluid in a regular auto shop, contact official dealer brand of your car and order the same coolant or ask for help in choosing an analogue. The amount of antifreeze is also indicated in the operating documentation (on average, it is 6-8 liters of liquid).

Important!If during the process of replacing the coolant you drained the remaining one and found impurities and a characteristic precipitate in it, the engine cooling mechanism must first be cleaned with detergents containing organic acids, and then use distilled water.

An obligatory moment when buying antifreeze (like any other product) is a careful study of the date of manufacture, expiration date and storage conditions. Under no circumstances should you take a liquid that leaks through the lid when the container is turned upside down: a violation of the tightness of the packaging during storage may affect its quality. There should be no small particles or sediment at the bottom of the bottle or canister. When shaking the package with high-quality coolant, the foam resulting from this should disappear within ten seconds.

Antifreeze for cars can be of 4 types, which differ in functional additives:

Did you know?Ferruccio Lamborghini started his business with the production of not cars, but tractors. Having a Ferrari 250 GT in his possession, he often complained about alleged "factory" clutch problems. When Ferruccio turned to Enzo Ferrari with a remark about this deviation in the operation of the mechanism, the latter pointed out to Lamborghini that he was ignorant in the manufacturing process. sports cars(in contrast to Ferrucho's direct specialty - the production of tractors). The future industrialist and businessman decided to completely disassemble the car and improve all its components. Thus began the automotive-productive career of Lamborghini.

How to replace antifreeze in a car with your own hands

It is not difficult to replace the coolant filled with the factory, so this procedure can be performed by yourself. It is recommended to put on gloves on your hands before carrying out this process, since antifreezes are toxic in themselves and, if they come into contact with open areas of the skin, can cause severe intoxication.

The procedure for replacing antifreeze in a car is as follows:

Video: How to replace antifreeze Thus, we can conclude that antifreeze plays an important role in the quality functioning of the internal combustion engine of a car. Monitoring the integrity of the elements included in the cooling system, timely and correct replacement of the refrigerant will protect you from the occurrence of unforeseen unpleasant situations on the road.

Important! It is impossible to mix old and new coolant due to the fact that the expiration date of the first one is already shorter. And here's why: the different components that make up them can enter into a chemical reaction, which can adversely affect the working properties of antifreeze.

Replacing old antifreeze with a new one at home is not so difficult. The main thing is to do everything according to the instructions, do not forget to drain the old fluid and only after the system is completely cleaned, fill in a new one.

Regular replacement of antifreeze is important for the engine cooling system to work without problems. Let's talk about how to properly replace the coolant in a car (+ video) and how often it needs to be changed.

Plain water is best for engine cooling. It has excellent thermal conductivity. But its minus - it freezes at low temperatures and leads to corrosion of the cooling system parts - clogs the radiator, reduces the service life. Therefore, manufacturers use antifreeze (the same as antifreeze).

When do you need to change?

It is recommended to change the coolant every 2-3 years to prevent corrosion. In fact, the actual service life is determined by the car manufacturer. For example, Volkswagen and GM give a life term for replacing antifreeze in a car, Ford - ten years or 240,000 kilometers, Mercedes-Benz - five years, AvtoVAZ - 75,000 kilometers. BMW and Mitsubishi recommend changing every 4 years, Daimler - once every fifteen years. Mazda and Renault say that coolant changes are not needed during the life of the car.

Why can not change antifreeze for a long time? Manufacturers have released a new generation of antifreezes with a formula that allows you to increase the replacement time to 200,000 km. The duration depends on the content of anti-corrosion additives. As long as they are present, everything is fine. As soon as the amount of anti-corrosion agents is reduced, the engine and radiator corrode. Especially dangerous for motors with aluminum parts.

If the time has come to replace the antifreeze, then ideally we change it to the original one, which was filled in at the factory. But how to find out and is it possible to buy a similar one in the store? When choosing a coolant, follow the recommendations of the car manufacturer, indicated in the service book. If the type of recommended coolant could not be found out, then you should buy antifreeze marked G12, as the most versatile.

How do you know it's time to change? You need to look under the hood of the car and check the condition of the fluid in the expansion tank of the cooling system (you can find out where it is from the instructions). It should be clean and free from dirt and other debris. It's like comparing clean spring water and rusty tap water. If in doubt, it is better to change.

Another question - do I need to flush the cooling system? When changing the coolant, flushing is mandatory, especially if the drained antifreeze contains oil, dirt and other contaminants, or you do not know what was previously filled. If, when replacing, the old liquid does not have any contaminants, and you fill in exactly the same one that was previously, then flushing is not necessary.

How to replace yourself?

Antifreeze is changed on a cold engine. Changing hot is dangerous, because. its temperature is about 90-100 degrees. Locate the radiator/reservoir cap and remove it, then locate the radiator drain plug and open it by placing a large bucket under it. Drain the coolant. Then inspect the cooling system hoses for cracks and breaks. Change them if necessary.

Before pouring antifreeze - flush the system to remove rust and deposits that water cannot remove. For washing use special means of autochemistry. It is necessary to pour them into the radiator and add distilled or filtered water to the tank to the brim. Close covers. The next step is to turn on the engine and wait until it warms up to operating temperature. After "turn off" the motor, let it cool down, drain the liquid.

After that, it is necessary to pour water into the system, close the covers and turn on the engine again for 15 minutes. Let it cool and drain the water. After that, fill in new antifreeze. Next, you need to “turn on” the engine and the heating in the cabin to the “maximum” so that the coolant is evenly distributed throughout the system to remove air bubbles. After a few days, be sure to check the level of antifreeze in the system and add it to the correct level if necessary.

Antifreeze or antifreeze is used in the cooling system of every car. Regardless of whether the liquid is made on the basis of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, it contains a proportion of water and additional additives that have antioxidant, anti-foam and other properties. After the aging of the coolant, the refrigerant must be replaced without fail, since some of the elements of the coolant (coolant) lose their characteristics.

The car's operating instructions contain recommendations for replacing antifreeze, but there are also generally accepted rules that will help you figure out how to properly fill in antifreeze. First of all, we will deal with the frequency of replacing the coolant.

How often should antifreeze be changed?

Most manuals for motorists say that you need to change antifreeze every 40-45 thousand kilometers. But, in fact, in this matter it is necessary to build on the type of coolant and its classification. For example:

Class G 11 fluids, intended for cars manufactured before 1996, have a short shelf life of 2-3 years.
Antifreeze G 12, recommended for cars manufactured from 1996 to 2001, will last longer - 5 years.
Coolant G 12+, which is used for cars manufactured after 2001, also has a five-year shelf life.
Fluids G 12++ and G 13 are rarely used for domestic auto industry but they also have a long shelf life.

Healthy! If you mix different types refrigerants with the same basis, their shelf life is automatically reduced to 2-3 years.

As you can see, a lot depends on the coolant class, as well as on the basis on which the fluid was made. Ethylene glycol is toxic and takes a long time to decompose, resulting in corrosion on parts of the cooling system. Therefore, refrigerants of this type are recommended to be changed more often. Propylene glycol is considered an environmentally friendly product that decomposes quickly, which makes it last longer. Therefore, the fluid replacement period can be from 40,000 to 200,000 kilometers.

To determine that it's time to change antifreeze, it is enough to purchase a special test strip, which you can find in any auto parts store. Another option is to take a look at service book of your car, the period for replacing the coolant must be indicated there.

To replace antifreeze, you need to prepare everything you need: “fresh” liquid, distilled water for washing, gloves, a filling funnel and a container for draining. After that, you need to drain the old coolant.

How to drain antifreeze

To make a replacement in accordance with all the rules, it is necessary to drain the antifreeze from the engine, radiator and heating system of the car. To do this, you need to drive the car onto a slope, a pit, or use a jack, so that the front of the car is raised. Further, it is necessary to wait until the car engine cools down, so as not to get burned. After that, perform the following manipulations:

Unscrew the cap of the expansion tank. At the same time, it must be smoothly turned counterclockwise until it stops in order to relieve the residual pressure in the system. Then you can completely remove the cover.
Place the prepared drain container under drain plug(on different car models, it can be located both on the engine and on the radiator). Then open the drain cock located at the bottom of the radiator and drain the old coolant.

Close the drain cocks and fill the system with clean distilled water. It is important to remember, however, that cold water in a hot "engine" is impossible.
Tighten all the plugs, but expansion tank leave it open.
Run the engine for 5-10 minutes to flush the cooling system. In this case, all heating devices in the car must operate at maximum power.
Drain the water and repeat this step until the drained liquid is clear and clear. For flushing, specialized flushing compounds can also be used.

After that, you can tighten the drain bolt and proceed to the next step.

How to pour antifreeze into the cooling system

In order to fill in new antifreeze, the car can be removed from the jack, but before that, be sure to check how securely the drain bolt is tightened.

Before pouring antifreeze into the car, make sure that the cooling system is tight, all elements are intact and function normally. Depending on the time of year, the coolant can be diluted with water to one degree or another. After that, follow these steps:

Remove the cap from the filler neck of the expansion tank.
Very slowly start pouring coolant in a thin stream.
For different models The car requires a different amount of antifreeze. In order not to "miss" pay attention to the translucent wall of the expansion tank, which is marked "MAX". She will just tell you how much to fill in antifreeze.

Tighten the filler cap tightly.
Start the engine and warm up the machine to standard operating temperature. First, the fan of the car's cooling system will start to work, and as soon as it turns off, this will indicate that temperature regime reached his standard.
Turn off the motor and wait until it has completely cooled down.
Check that there is enough antifreeze in the tank. If the fluid level has dropped, add coolant to the required mark.

This is a standard procedure for draining and replacing antifreeze, but before any manipulation, be sure to refer to the recommendations of the car manufacturer. In some situations, antifreeze is poured into both the expansion tank and the radiator neck. Other models of machines are equipped with non-separable radiators and therefore liquid can only be poured into the tank. In addition, some motorists often confuse the expansion tank and washer, so be sure to consider possible design features your machine and follow the tips below.

When replacing antifreeze, the following recommendations and warnings will help you:

When deciding how much antifreeze is needed, keep in mind that the liquid level in the radiator should reach the lower cut of the neck (if coolant is poured into it).
When working with antifreeze, be extremely careful, pour it away from children. It is advisable to do everything in the fresh air in order to inhale as little ethylene glycol vapor as possible.
If the liquid gets into the eyes or other mucous membranes on an open area of the body, immediately wash the area with clean water.
Do not allow splashes of antifreeze to get on the painted parts of the car body. Especially if you are using a liquid with silicates added or based on aggressive ethylene glycol. In case of contact with coolant, it can corrode the paint, so if this happens, rinse the surface with a large volume of water.
The toxic components of the liquid are dangerous to the life of people and animals, so always close the container with the composition.
If you use the same antifreeze from the same manufacturer, then flushing the cooling system is not necessary. This procedure is fundamental only when switching to a different type of coolant.
If you are using a concentrate and not a ready-made liquid, remember the proportions. In summer, more water (1: 1) can be added to the composition, since in the heat it will evaporate faster. In winter, so much water cannot be added, because under the influence low temperatures this will cause the liquid to freeze. As a result, the expansion tank may burst.

In custody

Before changing any fluid in a vehicle, whether motor oil or antifreeze, be sure to consider the composition of the fluid, which must meet the requirements of your car. A defective or inappropriate product may result in rapid wear parts and subsequent costly repairs.