Hi All. Wanting to get feedback on DIY coolant flush vs coolant replacement for a 3rd gen (2015) Mazda 5. My understanding is that for a coolant flush one drains the coolant and runs distilled water until it’s all out. One then adds concentrate until the balance is about 50/50. A coolant replacement is a simple drain and replace. For regular maintenance is coolant replacement sufficient every couple of years? A legitimate coolant flush seems to be more time intensive and requires concentrate, which I cannot find on any of the Mazda parts stores. For replacement, I can just drain and replace with pre-mix (55/45) FL22 Mazda brand coolant. What would you all suggest for regular maintenance on a daily driver?
Coolant Flush vs Coolant replacement for regular maintenance?
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
Joined
·
3,597 Posts
Just replace it, assuming there is nothing other than the OE coolant in there. That's what I did and what came out was visually fine -- no debris, corrosion or similar. Now if you drain it and its dirty then the game changes, but if nobody has screwed with it since new I bet its perfectly ok and a drain-and-fill will be fine. You will only get about 2/3rds or so of it out with a drain, which is ok.
In addition to the radiator drain plug, do our cars have a coolant drain plug on the engine block? If you can get that off too, a drain and re-fill should be just fine.
Joined
·
60 Posts
Coolant is long-life. Not due for replacement for 10 yrs 120,000 miles.
Joined
·
140 Posts
Agreed. The OEM coolant is good for 10 years or 120,000 miles per the owner's manual. I am sticking to that. I believe it needs to be replaced more frequently after the first change (IIRC).
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
Join the discussion
