How To: Check, Flush & Fill Your Vehicle's Coolant

Flushing and filling your antifreeze (coolant) is typically recommended every five years, but your vehicle manufacturer will have a specific recommendation for your vehicle. Watch as we show you how to tackle this DIY maintenance on your vehicle.

0:00 Welcome Back
0:44 Check Your Anti-Freeze Level
1:02 Allow Coolant to Cool
1:12 Jack Up the Front
1:20 Drain the Coolant
2:08 Add Radiator Cleaner
2:28 Re-drain the Cooling System
2:40 Fill the System With Water
3:23 Refill the System With Coolant
3:40 Turn On Your Engine
3:49 Check Your Coolant Level

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Transcript:
As with any do-it-yourself maintenance, it’s important to know the manufacturer’s specifications for your vehicle, including the type of antifreeze and coolant-to-water ratio that’s recommended, as well as how often to flush your system. If you’re not completely comfortable doing it yourself, stop by and we’d be happy to recommend a professional technician in your area.

So let’s take a look.

[Hood open]
• Antifreeze is toxic, so make sure you put on your gloves and eye protection.
• To check your antifreeze level, you’ll need to find your reservoir. In this case, it’s right here. Make sure the coolant is somewhere between the min and max marks.
• If you plan to flush the system, the fluid level isn’t as crucial, as long as it’s not so low that you think there could be a leak. You’ll be refilling it after the flush.
• If you’ve driven your vehicle recently, the coolant could be hot enough to cause injury, so wait till it’s cool to start the process.
• Jacking up the front of your vehicle and putting it on jack stands will make it easier to work underneath the radiator—but if you have a vehicle with plenty of ground clearance, it may not be necessary.
• To drain your old coolant, start by removing your fill cap—it can be on the radiator, the engine, the pressure tank or one of your hoses.
• Locate the petcock, which will be located on the bottom of one of the radiator tanks. It’s possible that it could have a small plastic cover that can be removed with a screwdriver.
• Place a drain pan under the radiator and loosen the petcock to let the old coolant run out. In some cases, this will be a hose that you’ll detach to let the old fluid drain.
• Once the coolant is done draining, re-tighten the petcock.
• Used antifreeze, motor oil and other automotive fluids are toxic and harmful to the environment and people. Used antifreeze is considered hazardous waste, so we can’t recycle it in our stores. Most communities have hazardous waste collection sites, so we suggest visiting your city or county website for details.
• Next, add radiator cleaner and water to manufacturer’s recommendations, and replace the cap.
• Start your engine, and turn your heater on high until the temperature gauge reads normal.
• Shut your engine off and let it cool down completely.
• Remove the fill cap and drain the system again. When it’s done draining, be sure to tighten the petcock.
• Use a garden hose to fill the system with water to manufacturer’s specifications, and replace the cap.
• Turn on the engine and let it run until the temperature gauge reads normal.
• Turn off the engine and let it cool down completely.
• Open the petcock and drain the system again, making sure to tighten it back when it’s done draining.
• Repeat the water flush process. You can use distilled water this time if you’re concerned about any remaining minerals from the tap water.
• Drain the water from the system, and make sure you retighten the petcock.
• Determine the coolant-to-water ratio and quantity specified by the vehicle manufacturer, and refill the system.
• When applicable, add coolant mixture to your recovery reservoir.
• Turn on your engine and let it run until the temperature gauge reads normal, and check under the vehicle for leaks.
• Shut off the engine, and once it’s cooled down completely, double-check the coolant level to see if any needs to be added. If it’s at the proper level, you’re all done.

[lawrencekin]

This video is very helpful .. Kudos to OReilly Auto Parts

[philn]

Did you guys really recommend using a garden hose to fill the coolant system?? If you care about your vehicle at all, use distilled water to prevent buildup of precipitated minerals (present in tap water but not distilled) within the system

[DIZEMANPHOTO]

No mention of burping the air out of the system?

[riptaway]

I keep trying to teach my wife to screw the petcock but she just doesn't get it. Is there a video for that issue specifically?

[Cerridwyn]

A low coolant light came on the dash display. I added coolant to the reservoir, heard splashing & saw fluid falling to the ground.

I told the car owner who asked her nephew to peek at it. He saw holes in the tubing from reservoir to radiator.

The owner wanted to have AutoZone take a look. I told her they were not mechanics, but can see what they say. Which was they can order more tubing.

That was two weeks ago. The whole ordeal has been 2½ weeks before that.

What should I tell this lady?

[TheBadThad]

If you value your system, NEVER use tap water! Not even to flush it! Distilled water is cheap. Buy 3-4 gallons before you start on this project.

[pharax]

Where can I buy the Jakar? You got it’s really nice one.

[matthewfullard]

Off-topic. What type of jack/stand is that you use to lift the car?

[LazyScoutJace]

This was a bitch to do in my '13 Chevy Sonic. Worst location for a drainage plug

[jjack]

You just added 50/50 to whole bunch of water.

[danielneely]

Lmao yo face was Cool, whenever you wanna

[bean-rfie]

What would happen if i put deicer in where the antifreeze giea 911