Your car maker's log book provides recommendations for when to flush your radiator system, It is generally advised that you flush your coolant system every two years or 40,000 km’s depending on which comes first. However, the size of your engine, local seasons, the quality of your existing coolant, and the total km's driven can all have an effect on how often you should replace the coolant in your radiator.

At Drysdale Motors, at your request we will perform a full 65 point safety check for free as part of any minor, major or log book service on your vehicle. This includes checking the coolant in your system and the written report will tell you if we feel a radiator flush, coolant replacement or any repairs are recommended to maintain the safety and performance of your vehicle.

Eventually rust and scale deposits build up and the whole system becomes blocked and not as good at cooling and protecting your car. This build up of rust and debris can damage parts of your cooling system including your water pump, radiator, hoses and thermostat, affecting the lifespan of those parts and leading to expensive repairs or replacements in the future.

While there are a lot of websites giving advice on how to flush a radiator yourself – we advise against it. Today's vehicles can be complex and mistakes like incomplete flushing or changing the coolant in your vehicle without flushing can stir up even more particles and cause blockages in your thermostat or radiator. It's advisable to have your systems inspected regularly by a qualified mechanic, and properly flushed before being refilled with the right type of coolant, the system purged of any air pockets, and then the whole system professionally reviewed again to ensure full working order and to prevent any costly breakdowns in the future.
Radiator coolant is toxic and needs to be handled very carefully. It has a sweet smell which can be attractive for children and some pets so proper storage is very important – letting a trained technician do this job for you means not handling or having dangerous chemicals around your house. Dangerous coolant also needs to be disposed of in the proper manner, professional workshops can have the coolant recycled or properly disposed of to save the environment.