Flush the Radiator Coolant?
 

I took my car into get a state inspection today and in the bay next to mine
there was a van getting a coolant flush. The Van had about 88K miles on it
and they said it had never been flushed before.

I was amazed at how thick and black the old coolant was. I asked if there
was something wrong with the vehicle that would cause that, and they told me
it was pretty normal wear and tear.

The shop I was at suggested Coolant flush @ 50K and then every 30k after
that.

Is that about right?

Re: Flush the Radiator Coolant?
 

This comes up all the time here. For a recent thread, see
http://tinyurl.com/c6dau

The "answer" to your question depends on what type and year vehicle you
have, and what kind of coolant it uses. Currently there appear to be
several different types, which may or may not be mutually compatible. It is
a good policy to use the correct fluid, and replace it as necessary, if you
can find out what and how often that is.

Earle

"Brian Foster" <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:dzsEf.16564$jO.11987@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> I took my car into get a state inspection today and in the bay next to
mine
> there was a van getting a coolant flush. The Van had about 88K miles on it
> and they said it had never been flushed before.
>
> I was amazed at how thick and black the old coolant was. I asked if there
> was something wrong with the vehicle that would cause that, and they told
me
> it was pretty normal wear and tear.
>
> The shop I was at suggested Coolant flush @ 50K and then every 30k after
> that.
>
> Is that about right?
>
>

Re: Flush the Radiator Coolant?
 

This comes up all the time here. For a recent thread, see
http://tinyurl.com/c6dau

The "answer" to your question depends on what type and year vehicle you
have, and what kind of coolant it uses. Currently there appear to be
several different types, which may or may not be mutually compatible. It is
a good policy to use the correct fluid, and replace it as necessary, if you
can find out what and how often that is.

Earle

"Brian Foster" <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:dzsEf.16564$jO.11987@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> I took my car into get a state inspection today and in the bay next to
mine
> there was a van getting a coolant flush. The Van had about 88K miles on it
> and they said it had never been flushed before.
>
> I was amazed at how thick and black the old coolant was. I asked if there
> was something wrong with the vehicle that would cause that, and they told
me
> it was pretty normal wear and tear.
>
> The shop I was at suggested Coolant flush @ 50K and then every 30k after
> that.
>
> Is that about right?
>
>

Re: Flush the Radiator Coolant?
 

This comes up all the time here. For a recent thread, see
http://tinyurl.com/c6dau

The "answer" to your question depends on what type and year vehicle you
have, and what kind of coolant it uses. Currently there appear to be
several different types, which may or may not be mutually compatible. It is
a good policy to use the correct fluid, and replace it as necessary, if you
can find out what and how often that is.

Earle

"Brian Foster" <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:dzsEf.16564$jO.11987@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> I took my car into get a state inspection today and in the bay next to
mine
> there was a van getting a coolant flush. The Van had about 88K miles on it
> and they said it had never been flushed before.
>
> I was amazed at how thick and black the old coolant was. I asked if there
> was something wrong with the vehicle that would cause that, and they told
me
> it was pretty normal wear and tear.
>
> The shop I was at suggested Coolant flush @ 50K and then every 30k after
> that.
>
> Is that about right?
>
>

Re: Flush the Radiator Coolant?
 

Jeep recommends every 3 years or 30K miles.

Dave

"Brian Foster" <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:dzsEf.16564$jO.11987@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> I took my car into get a state inspection today and in the bay next to
mine
> there was a van getting a coolant flush. The Van had about 88K miles on it
> and they said it had never been flushed before.
>
> I was amazed at how thick and black the old coolant was. I asked if there
> was something wrong with the vehicle that would cause that, and they told
me
> it was pretty normal wear and tear.
>
> The shop I was at suggested Coolant flush @ 50K and then every 30k after
> that.
>
> Is that about right?
>
>

Re: Flush the Radiator Coolant?
 

Jeep recommends every 3 years or 30K miles.

Dave

"Brian Foster" <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:dzsEf.16564$jO.11987@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> I took my car into get a state inspection today and in the bay next to
mine
> there was a van getting a coolant flush. The Van had about 88K miles on it
> and they said it had never been flushed before.
>
> I was amazed at how thick and black the old coolant was. I asked if there
> was something wrong with the vehicle that would cause that, and they told
me
> it was pretty normal wear and tear.
>
> The shop I was at suggested Coolant flush @ 50K and then every 30k after
> that.
>
> Is that about right?
>
>

Re: Flush the Radiator Coolant?
 

Jeep recommends every 3 years or 30K miles.

Dave

"Brian Foster" <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:dzsEf.16564$jO.11987@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> I took my car into get a state inspection today and in the bay next to
mine
> there was a van getting a coolant flush. The Van had about 88K miles on it
> and they said it had never been flushed before.
>
> I was amazed at how thick and black the old coolant was. I asked if there
> was something wrong with the vehicle that would cause that, and they told
me
> it was pretty normal wear and tear.
>
> The shop I was at suggested Coolant flush @ 50K and then every 30k after
> that.
>
> Is that about right?
>
>

Re: Flush the Radiator Coolant?
 

Brian Foster wrote:
> I took my car into get a state inspection today and in the bay next to mine
> there was a van getting a coolant flush. The Van had about 88K miles on it
> and they said it had never been flushed before.
>
> I was amazed at how thick and black the old coolant was. I asked if there
> was something wrong with the vehicle that would cause that, and they told me
> it was pretty normal wear and tear.
>
> The shop I was at suggested Coolant flush @ 50K and then every 30k after
> that.

On consumer vehicles with no filters, now that cooling systems really
are almost hermetically sealed, yes. What happens is small amounts of
combustion gas and casting swarf invariably get in the system and stay
there.

Even if you can't do a proper flush, drop a lower hose and drain out
what you can and refill with the right juice. Use exactly what the
manufacturer says, especially if you can't totally flush the system.

Re: Flush the Radiator Coolant?
 

Brian Foster wrote:
> I took my car into get a state inspection today and in the bay next to mine
> there was a van getting a coolant flush. The Van had about 88K miles on it
> and they said it had never been flushed before.
>
> I was amazed at how thick and black the old coolant was. I asked if there
> was something wrong with the vehicle that would cause that, and they told me
> it was pretty normal wear and tear.
>
> The shop I was at suggested Coolant flush @ 50K and then every 30k after
> that.

On consumer vehicles with no filters, now that cooling systems really
are almost hermetically sealed, yes. What happens is small amounts of
combustion gas and casting swarf invariably get in the system and stay
there.

Even if you can't do a proper flush, drop a lower hose and drain out
what you can and refill with the right juice. Use exactly what the
manufacturer says, especially if you can't totally flush the system.

Re: Flush the Radiator Coolant?
 

Brian Foster wrote:
> I took my car into get a state inspection today and in the bay next to mine
> there was a van getting a coolant flush. The Van had about 88K miles on it
> and they said it had never been flushed before.
>
> I was amazed at how thick and black the old coolant was. I asked if there
> was something wrong with the vehicle that would cause that, and they told me
> it was pretty normal wear and tear.
>
> The shop I was at suggested Coolant flush @ 50K and then every 30k after
> that.

On consumer vehicles with no filters, now that cooling systems really
are almost hermetically sealed, yes. What happens is small amounts of
combustion gas and casting swarf invariably get in the system and stay
there.

Even if you can't do a proper flush, drop a lower hose and drain out
what you can and refill with the right juice. Use exactly what the
manufacturer says, especially if you can't totally flush the system.