when to change coolant
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,357
Likes: 250
when to change coolant
Normally I change my coolant at 50000 along with all the other fluids and plugs. I see the newer yellow Mountain dew colored coolant has a 10yr/200k mile life according to the book but I won't run it that long. What mileage are you guys changing your coolant at? Even though I don't tow much I consider my trucks usage severe because of the short distance drives, the dusty conditions, and the hot/cold cycles.
ETA. The truck is a 2019 F250 with the 6.2.
ETA. The truck is a 2019 F250 with the 6.2.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,650
Likes: 961
From: Walpole, MA
OAT based coolants have very long service lives, OTR trucks run them for hundreds of thousands of miles, even in delivery truck applications. There is no silica to fall out of suspension, unless the system has been contaminated there really isn't any reason to change it. Wear rates in a cooling system are a fraction of what they are in even in a transmission, transfer case or diff. I have 120k on mine with what appears to be OEM coolant and I don't plan on change it until I am north of 180k miles, a water pump dies or a hose pops a leak.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 684
Likes: 84
From: Green Bay Wi
Just when I replace a water pump or hose or open the cooling system for any reason. With that said I seldom keep a vehicle for more than 150, 000 miles. If you plane on keeping a vehicle for ever ,it’s probably best to change every 50,000.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,410
Likes: 1,015
From: Central KY
Timely post. I'm going to hit 100k soon and was planning to change my coolant when I install the block heater since I figure I'll loose most of it when I remove the freeze plug. I called the diesel shop that did my diet plan and DPK last week and the owner of the shop said "don't worry about changing it". He said especially with no EGR it's really not important to change it until I have issues with it. Hmm....
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,348
Likes: 1,714
From: AKRON ohio
did change the PS fluid only because I had a line go bad and leak
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 387
Likes: 273
These fluids and fluid changes are so cheap (if you do it yourself), it's really a no-brainer to do it even more often than the owner manual suggests.
It's also a great opportunity to check the vehicle out for other things that might be amiss
Nothing like maintaining your work vehicle/equipment yourself at yearly intervals.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 192
Likes: 59
These fluids and fluid changes are so cheap (if you do it yourself), it's really a no-brainer to do it even more often than the owner manual suggests.
It's also a great opportunity to check the vehicle out for other things that might be amiss
Nothing like maintaining your work vehicle/equipment yourself at yearly intervals.
It's also a great opportunity to check the vehicle out for other things that might be amiss
Nothing like maintaining your work vehicle/equipment yourself at yearly intervals.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,616
Likes: 4,697
From: Itinerant
These fluids and fluid changes are so cheap (if you do it yourself), it's really a no-brainer to do it even more often than the owner manual suggests.
It's also a great opportunity to check the vehicle out for other things that might be amiss
Nothing like maintaining your work vehicle/equipment yourself at yearly intervals.
It's also a great opportunity to check the vehicle out for other things that might be amiss
Nothing like maintaining your work vehicle/equipment yourself at yearly intervals.
If a person is beating the snot out of a vehicle and mud bogging to the doors I'm all in on frequent changes but for the majority asphalt queens. No need....but that's just me and I rack roughly 45-50k miles a year with off road conditions.
