Change Antifreeze / Coolant
Your engine is a heat maker! Temperatures inside the engine would melt the metals used if it weren’t for your cooling system. Critical to that is the mixture of antifreeze and water that runs through your radiator.
You can look inside your radiator – but only when it’s cold. If you open the radiator when it’s hot, you risk a geyser of superheated coolant.
You should be able to see coolant in the top of the radiator; it can be either bright green if it’s regular antifreeze or a bright red or orange if it’s the newer extended life antifreeze. If it’s dirty or rusty looking, it’s time to get your radiator drained and change antifreeze.
Change antifreeze based on mileage
Antifreeze wears out, and when it does, the internal parts of the cooling system start to corrode. If you’re running the new extended life antifreeze (red/orange color), it’s good for 100,000 miles. If you’re running the older (green) antifreeze you’ll get 30,000 miles before you need to change antifreeze.
Some notes:
- Never mix the two types of fluids. Don’t add regular life fluid to extended life fluid or vice versa.
- Be careful with antifreeze around animals – especially dogs. The green radiator fluid tastes sweet to them, but is highly poisonous even in small amounts.
If you want to squeeze an additional 50, 100, or even 150 thousand miles or more out of your vehicle, you need an expert on your side – the experts at Tires Tires Tires will help you get those extra miles and save you money.
