Engine coolants are also known as antifreeze. Coolants are mixedย water to keep the radiator from freezing in extreme cold and overheating in extreme heat. It is necessary to change your engine coolants because it prevents transferring of heat and it prevents the risk of engine damage. Coolants also protect metals and non-metallic elastomers in the engine and the cooling circuit, so you need to change them to prolong your engine’s life.
Before knowing the steps on how to change your coolants, here are the things needed:
- New coolant
- Air-powered refill tool
- Air compressor
- Hose removal tool
- Shop manual to locate block drain plugs
- Drain pan
- Absorbent paper towels
- ย Wrenches and screwdrivers
Now that you know the things needed, here are the simple steps in changing your engine’s coolant.
- Open Drain Cock
Open the drain cock by unscrewing, twisting a quarter turn, or twisting and pulling. Remember that there are several different drain cocks (unscrew and wrench, quarter turn, unscrew, quarter turn, and wrench).
- Remove the Hose
Push the clamp springย togetherย withย the slide-jointย pliers andย slideย theย pliers out ofย theย plier’sย neck.ย Removeย the hose and drain the remaining coolant. If you encounter difficulty accessing aย pipeย clampย will saveย time andย stamped joints.
Hose Clamps Pliers are available at an auto parts store or online.- Add a coolant to the radiator.
Mixย 1 gallon ofย full capacity coolantย (not premixed) and 1 gallon of distilled water in a clean bucket before adding theย mixtureย to the radiator.
- Remove the Lower Hose
- Draining and Refilling Coolant in Newer Cars
Changing your engine’s coolant on your own can save you money.ย
- Vacuum-Fill the Cooling System
Blockย theย intake manifold inย theย cooler.ย Then open the valve and let the vacuumย drawย fresh coolant into the system. Repeat theย processย until the system is enough.
- Replace the Thermostat and Radiator Cap When You Change the Coolant
The thermostat is the most needed component inย a vehicle’sย cooling system because it regulatesย the engine’sย temperature.ย However,ย mostย homeowners don’tย replace it when they change their coolant.ย That’sย a mistake: Aย faultyย thermostat is the second most common cause of engine overheating and failureย (defectiveย radiator fan isย theย numberย one cause).ย And worn radiatorย capsย (sometimes on overflowย tanks)ย can also contribute to engine overheating. Both parts are inexpensive and are cheapย overheating insurance.
- Buying the Right Coolant
Mostย DIY enthusiastsย buy coolantย from anย auto parts store because the label saysย it’s “universal,” which meansย it worksย onย allย types ofย cars.ย Automakersย disagree.ย In recent years they haveย issued serviceย noticesย warning thatย “universal”ย coolants areย generally not compatibleย with newer metal alloys andย theย gaskets and seals used inย yourย vehicles. Automakers aren’tย sayingย thisย toย boostย sales of their proprietary coolants.ย
Phillips 66 in Australia offers Heavy-duty coolants/antifreeze. The lines are marketed under the Guardol HD OAT name and are available as a concentrate or 50/50 prediluted to service all heavy-duty customer needs. Phillips Australia is one of the distributors of Phillips 66 products. Phillips 66 gives the best engine oils. Phillips lubricants are known because of their top-grade quality. Two of their coolants are the following:
- Guardol Oat HD Coolant or Antifreezeย is intended for use and compatible with any OAT extended life heavy-duty coolant/antifreeze in any diesel commercial vehicle engine or stationary engine with aluminum and other various engine metals.ย
- SHIELD COOLANT/ANTIFREEZEย provides extended life protection up to 5 years or 150,000 miles (when flushed and filled according to directions) and is compatible with any antifreeze/coolant used in any vehicle.ย