Coolant Flush: A Key Fall Auto Maintenance Item

We did it! We made it through one of the hottest summers on record and I’m sure looking forward to the cooler temperatures of fall. This time of year is also a good time to look at how well your car is performing after the rigors of hot summer driving. Do you notice that your car’s temperature gauge is still heating up past the normal range, even with these cooler temperatures? Then it may be time to schedule a Fall Auto Maintenance service on your Cooling System. Do you know the difference between a radiator flush, a coolant flush and a coolant fill?

Coolant Flush vs. Radiator Flush

What is the difference between a Coolant Flush and a Radiator Flush? Absolutely nothing. They are essentially the same thing said in a different way. It’s semantics. A Coolant Flush refers to draining all the old coolant from your cooling system and flushing out the impurities with clean water (and sometimes a cleaning agent made for this task) before refilling the system with a fresh coolant mixture.

A Radiator Flush is draining the radiator of all the old coolant and flushing it with clean water (and sometimes a descaling agent made for this task), before refilling the system with a fresh coolant mixture. See? They are basically the same thing and accomplish the same goal. They both rid the cooling system of contaminants (like scale & rust) and replace the old, used up fluid with new coolant.

How Often Does My Car Need A Coolant Flush?

Experts have varying opinions on the matter. A good place to start is to read the recommendations in your owner’s manual. Brand new cars may not need a coolant flush for up to 5 years. Older cars may need a coolant flush every 1-5 years if there are no signs of overheating, leaking coolant, or noticeable signs of rust/scale on your radiator.

Routine Auto Maintenance

If you practice good routine maintenance on your car, your cooling system can last years without any issues. Of course, no one can predict when a component may unexpectedly fail, or is damaged in an accident, or by road debris. Checking your coolant levels is a pretty straight forward activity. If you don’t know where your coolant reservoir is, consult your owner’s manual. If you notice that it is low, make sure to check for leaks.

You can spot coolant leaks by both sight and smell. Coolant (or antifreeze) is typically a fluorescent color (yellow-green, pink, orange, blue, or even purple) and smells sweet. Beware, because coolant is toxic when ingested, so if you do notice any leaks under your car, make sure to clean them up before they can endanger kids and/or pets that may be attracted to the sweet scent.

Coolant Fill

Part of routine maintenance is a Coolant Fill. This process differs from a Coolant (or Radiator) Flush because the cleaning portion is omitted. If your coolant has used up it’s lubricating and cooling additives, but is rust/scale free, then it just needs to be drained and refilled with fresh coolant. Your owner’s manual may recommend several ‘fills’ before a ‘flush’ is required. Of course, a trained service technician can help you choose the necessary service based on your car’s specific needs.

Coolant Top-Off

Coolant Top-Off is when you add a little more coolant to your car to bring the level back up to ‘normal’. The cooling system in your car is a closed system. Therefore, if you find yourself frequently adding coolant to your reservoir, this can indicate you have a leak somewhere in the system. It is wise to get your car into a service station for a cooling system diagnostic, so that the leak can be tracked down and repaired. A slow coolant leak may not seem like a big deal, but addressing the issue while it’s small, can save you a big expensive repair down the road.

Fall Auto Maintenance in Kirkland, WA

Fisher’s Auto Service provides a quality alternative to quick lube, tire shops, and dealership service departments. We offer you the additional convenience, integrity and personal attention of a locally owned auto repair shop in Kirkland, Washington. Our trained technicians would be happy to help you with all of your cooling system needs this fall.

Schedule a Coolant Flush Service

Visit us online or call us at (425) 441-3601 to make an appointment for a diagnostic service, a coolant flush, a coolant fill, or a multi-point inspection.