General Is it necessary to change engine coolant (schedule says not?)

[twincamms]

Thanks Deck

Will give it a go tomorrow.

 

[ScottyP]

I hate changing my coolant, everytime I have drained the system, I always end up with leaks, must be crap lodged in system plugging up holes.

 

[wotnowarninglight]

Not sure when you should change coolant on the Stilo... just tend to take the expansion tank cap off and check coolant with an antifreeze tester before the onset of winter (end octoberish) antifreeze tester usually says ok down to -30 deg C or similar

 

[alexGS]

Not sure when you should change coolant on the Stilo... just tend to take the expansion tank cap off and check coolant with an antifreeze tester before the onset of winter (end octoberish) antifreeze tester usually says ok down to -30 deg C or similar

Well that was the crux of the whole thread
Even if the freezing point remains low, I'm still not convinced that the anti-corrosion quality lasts forever. I have read that after two or three years, the coolant starts to turn acidic and promote corrosion. Whether this is true or not, I don't know. For an interesting read, turn to http://www.aa1car.com/library/2005/us90554.htm Stilo_ste's experience suggests that coolant lasts well, and we have a majority vote that coolant change is not necessary.

But certainly I shall be using deckchair5's clever less-disturbance technique when I do eventually get around to changing my coolant (just to 'keep it new' really) and so I certainly got something out of this thread, thanks to all who replied

With your coolant, diconnect your return to the coolant tank, the little pipe on the top of ther reservoir, add an extension pipe to it and dump that into a bucket then just add a constant top up to the coolant tank as necessary whilst your engine is ticking over and pumping the coolant out for you. You can use warm water from your kettle to top up then finally add your antifreeze, reconnect the pipe and let it circulate a bit.

Deckchair5, that was an excellent one-paragraph summary! Though, I'll be using a pre-mixed coolant rather than tap water or water from my kettle; wouldn't want scale in my engine, y'know...

...and I didn't know you could re-use those clips, I found the appearance daunting after years of worm-drive hose clips! In fact they reminded me of the clips on the short rubber hoses of the six chromed inlet pipes of my Alfa 164, and those pipes were better left alone

-Alex

 

[twincamms]

Done this job yesterday and I have to report, it's the easiest job on the Stilo I've done yet!

This is how I did it.

Break the clip on the hose that goes into the radiator and remove the pipe, (no need to get under the car, this is accessible from the top) let all the fluid drain out. Stick a hose pipe in the expansion tank and flush through, then stick the hose pipe in the radiator and flush that through too. reconnect the pipe and refill the system, take the hose off and let it drain off again, keep repeating this until the water runs clear. When you are happy that the system is flushed through and clean reconnect the pipe and secure with a 40mm stainless steel jubileee clip. Refill the system with 1.75 litres distilled water and 1.75 litres of your chosen antifreeze (I used Halfrauds 5 year advanced technology £10 for 2 litres flourescent pink skanky antifreeze), the whole process takes about half an hour, job done.

Cheers!

 

[Yellow Peril]

One reason I change coolant every 2/3 years is that it is not only there to keep the engine cool. Paraflu contains a corrosion inhibitor to prevent internal corrosion of the coolant passageways in the alloy head. If you don't change regularly, this corrosion builds up, fills up the passageways, blocks coolant flow and lo and blehold, overheating, blown head gasket, cracked head etc etc

 

[alexGS]

One reason I change coolant every 2/3 years is that it is not only there to keep the engine cool. Paraflu contains a corrosion inhibitor to prevent internal corrosion of the coolant passageways in the alloy head. If you don't change regularly, this corrosion builds up, fills up the passageways, blocks coolant flow and lo and blehold, overheating, blown head gasket, cracked head etc etc

Thanks Phil, but I knew that... My concern was over corrosion-protection in the first place...

-Alex

 

[thepottleflump]

I bought some paraflu of Jut1974 which was the long life stuff. He bought to replace on the Abarth but decided he couldn't be arsed because of the access issues on that engine. Maybe the stuff from the factory is also the long life stuff however it should still be done every 5 years or 100,000 miles. I would do it for piece of mind if nothing else.