It’s not only a matter of when to change the coolant. Selecting the correct coolant for your car is critical. The problem is there are many types of coolants or anti-freeze, and the liquid comes in many colors, making it doubly hard for consumers to choose the right one. You can eliminate the guesswork by referring to the owner’s manual.
Older vehicles could require a green IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology) coolant. In contrast, others need OAT (Organic Acid Technology) or HOAT (Hybrid Organic Acid Technology) that come in red, pink, purple, yellow, or other colors. Using the wrong coolant might lead to premature corrosion and mediocre anti-freeze properties.
Toyota and Honda recommend changing the coolant every two years or 30,000 miles, and it’s worth checking the condition of the liquid at least every 15,000 miles. You won’t harm the engine and the radiator if you flush and replace the coolant earlier than the recommended service interval. However, keeping contaminated anti-freeze circling inside the motor will undoubtedly lead to problems in the long run.
