What is a coolant flush?

The coolant system in your vehicle is a hero working double duty to keep your car running smoothly all year long – preventing your engine from overheating in the summer when the temperatures are hot, and keeping it from freezing in the colder winter months. Like many functions of your vehicle, preventative maintenance is always wiser than reactive repairs once something has broken down. Your cooling system is no different. It’s important to keep this system in tip-top shape, which is where a coolant flush comes in.

1. What is a coolant flush?

A coolant flush entails the draining of all coolant/anti-freeze fluid from your radiator, removing build-up and scaling left behind by the old fluid. Then, fresh coolant is added to the system. The service prevents corrosion and sludge from building up and making your coolant system run inefficiently.

2. Why is it important?

Over time, the chemicals in the coolant fluid degrade and can become more acidic, putting your cooling system at risk of corrosion which can damage key parts of your engine from rubber hosing to aluminum pieces of the radiator – costly repairs to make down the road! It’s always better to get ahead of repairs with thoughtful preventative maintenance.

3. How often does my car need a coolant flush?

As always, the most accurate estimate of how often you will need this service lives squarely in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. That said, typically you should have this service done every 30,000 miles or every 3-4 years, whichever comes first.

Getting ready for the winter months? Check out our blog post on getting ready for holiday road trips for more winter Car Care tips. There are many ways to prepare for the changing of the seasons, and plenty of items on the to do list to stay safe in changing road conditions!