Quick car antifreeze/coolant question

[*Shinzon*]

Shit, if I had a audi....... i'd never let someone at autozone or pepboys touch my car.

For simple fluid changes it doesn't matter, but it helps to have someone who knows what they're doing show you the first time if you don't know someone who does know how. For anything technical or serious I'd go to the dealership every time for anything I purchase new. I can do brakes and everything else myself, but I'm no mechanic I've just had people show me.

Also don't mix different types of fluids. Usually best to stick to one brand because as the poster above metioned, different formulas often dont react well to one another.

[FNH]

I think I replace coolant every 250mi lol. All of the above are correct, basically.

if replacing the entire systems worth of coolant you are wasting money doing it this often. if you have to add coolant that often somethings is wrong.

[Pikarya]

if replacing the entire systems worth of coolant you are wasting money doing it this often. if you have to add coolant that often somethings is wrong.

Pretty sure he means topping off, unless hes a complete moron.

[Churchill]

if replacing the entire systems worth of coolant you are wasting money doing it this often. if you have to add coolant that often somethings is wrong.

Heh.

It's a 700+bhp RX-7.

[Cadsuane]

As in a mazda RX-7?

[Pikarya]

As in grocery getter.

[Cadsuane]

It's a fairly powerful mid range sports cars actually, but I'm calling horse shit on 700 bhp and the coolant swaps.

[Norellicus]

If you don't know for sure what's in it now (i.e. the last time the coolant was replaced, it wasn't done by you; even if you know what the manufacturer recommends, that may not be what's in there), then take it in and have it flushed. You don't want to mix that shit.

[FNH]

It's a fairly powerful mid range sports cars actually, but I'm calling horse shit on 700 bhp and the coolant swaps.

I concur

[Ghost_Wheel22]

It has a blown motor guys.

[jmc]

It's a fairly powerful mid range sports cars actually, but I'm calling horse shit on 700 bhp and the coolant swaps.

^ Gonna go ahead agree with your bullshit call on the 700 bhp.


If true, I wanna see a dyno on this...... lol

[Churchill]

Dyno sheet is back home, will post pics of engine bay when the sun is able to aid me in doing so

[Akanei]

Confirming the whole imports use red coolant thing. At least for Toyotas, but some oranges suffice.

Uh, the key things to look for is: asian vehicles can't deal with silicates, euros can't deal with phosphates and us tend to not work well with nitrite or amine coolants.

Then there's also the matter of the material of the radiator. Reds are designed specifically for aluminum radiators, but corrode all others. Greens won't protect an aluminum system well and will eventually lead to heat issues and/or failure. Oranges depend on what is in the fluid, but generally follow the same rule as reds.

Had a fun time screaming at a lube shop, once, when a fucking new employee had flushed my MR2 with green coolant.

[Elesirdur]

Anti freeze isn't a lubricant. In fact, fluids with lubricity don't typically mix with water. Engine coolants enhance the heat conductivity of water and protect the coolant tract of the engine and radiator from corrosion, and how exactly they do that is what makes one unique from another. Water pumps typically just use a sealed bearing with grease as lubricant, and too much water or bad antifreeze will rust one out and cause a leak.

Interesting, sounds much more plausible than the answers I was always given haha. Thanks for the informative correction.