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It saves money Posted by Ari [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Importance of flushing coolant regularly?, masupra, Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:41:47 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Coolant contains chemicals that inhibit rust, neutralize acid, lubricate the water pump. Coolant goes through some pretty nasty temperature cycles, and those cycles break down the chemicals, and form new, nasty ones. Acid neutralizers get used up. Small amounts of combustion by-products sneak past the head gasket and into the coolant. The oil/coolant barrier is good, but not perfect. Coolant breaks down. Stuff gets pulled in from the outside air. And as rsfeller says, few people use distilled water. That adds minerals and more chemicals (chlorine, anyone?).
Rubber in the hoses break down over time. That material has to go somewhere. If you don't flush the system, it just circulates around. Actually, it provides raw material for the corrosion and gunk that builds up in the cooling system.
Two things happen. First, when chemicals in the coolant break down, and the freezing point increases. Second, the corrosion inhibitors stop inhibiting corrosion. Holes get eaten into the thin metal of the radiator. Thin passages clog with gunk. There is no lubing for the the water pump seal, and it starts to wear.
I am astounded by a mechanic saying that flushing a cooling system is a waste of money. Maybe, just maybe, he's referring to a power flush, where they drain the system, then power flush the system in reverse with water. I wouldn't call that a waste of money, but if the cooling system has been well maintained, that is probably not necessary. But well-maintained means that the coolant is completely drained and replaced every two years, three at absolute most. If the coolant is replaced with fresh, in the proper mixture with distilled water, then a power flush is probably not necessary. But if he's saying you can just leave the coolant in until the end of time, well, the end of time will come pretty darn quick as far as the engine is concerned.
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