Changing your coolant

[Bipolar]

This subject is like bringing a new person into the world - EVERYONE and their dog has a different opinion on it. So how often do you change it? I'm inclined to do it every 2 years max, but then why would the manufacturer of the coolant specify changing it every 5? Surely being a company that wants to make a bigger profit would put the bare minimum time on so you have to buy it more often. So if they only want me to buy their shiz every 5 years, why should I buy it every 2?

Discuss.

[Frost]

I change mine yearly, with a radiator flush. I do this because of Fords history of casting sand blocking the radiator and overheating on a hot day.

I didnt know it was 5yearly as per manufactures specifications.

[EFFalcon]

this assumes i use coolant in my engine.
water FTW.

[travs ea-xr6]

i use straight water and my head gaskets never gone.
once we did a big service on mums eb and it was always running on water then we did the big service we thought we should run colant then a few days after that it blew a head gasket,colants shit
water FTW

[XR_Lightning]

Fords specification is every 3 years, but thats too long for me, every year is the way to go, especially with an older car which is known for coolant leaks

[OED666]

I change mine every 12 months, on the dot. I use Nulon long life shit, the 5 year stuff.

[EF ECTIV]

yep yearly for me too.... I have a habit of someone cracking radiator end
tanks so yeh... Sometimes it's forced

[Dumpsta]

Cant really vote on this, only owned the car 18 months and I did a radiator 6 months ago, and Ive had a slight leak ever since, doubt I could keep the same coolant in for 6 months let alone 1 year.

[67rce]

Every time i do a top rad hose, given i have a dailyed 5L thats about every 6 months

[wicksy]

this assumes i use coolant in my engine.
water FTW.

haha i do that too, fill it up when needed, which is fortnightly, its brown at the moment,

[Jake]

I'm topping up mine with water every couple of weeks also

Frost, whats this "Fords history of over heating on a hot day" ?
I have been able to use just 1 thermo fan for a couple of years now , with my temperature gauge only pointing to R in NORMAL on a hot day, or driving up a steep hill for a few km's... otherwise it usually sits on M or A... I don't even think I need a second thermo. (car is an Auto EF GLi)

[Frost]

I'm topping up mine with water every couple of weeks also

Frost, whats this "Fords history of over heating on a hot day" ?
I have been able to use just 1 thermo fan for a couple of years now , with my temperature gauge only pointing to R in NORMAL on a hot day, or driving up a steep hill for a few km's... otherwise it usually sits on M or A... I don't even think I need a second thermo. (car is an Auto EF GLi)

You havnt driven up pentland hills on a hot day.

[CaRtZ]

i have run water only in the EF since i did the head swap about 12 months ago. i would usually test the coolant using testing strips every 5th service or so but the water never seems to wear out for some reason lol

[pHaT`eL]

yep yearly for me too.... I have a habit of someone cracking radiator end
tanks so yeh... Sometimes it's forced

I have the same problem, lol.. Gets changed everytime I do a radiator.

[bluntltd]

Well its supposed to be a closed system is it not. But green is cool guess.

[EdFairmontGhia]

will wait to see the needle creeping up more then often, then will give it a shot....