Draining cooling system how often is sensible?

[Jimbob738]

i have been reading alot about the cooling system on here with regards to th 2.5td which i have but no one actually says how often they would flush/refill it any ideas anyone?

i replaced my head gasket in september last year as it blew so this was the last time i properly drained and blead the system, i didnt use sea saw method but next time i will, i have had some fluctuating coolant levels but all has been fine for about 2 months now if i had used this method in the first place would have saved some paranoid moments i think.

[Simon Jones]

Standard anti-freeze (typically blue / green) should be generally be changed every 2 years. Longlife (typically red / orange) is usually good for 5 years. Don't rely exclusively on the colour as there are some inconsistancies.

Lots on info on the net along with some scare stories especially regarding Dex Cool apparently causing engine damage. The different types cannot be mixed, so whichever type you go for, you will need to do a thorough flush before refilling to avoid any issues (plus it may shift some of the gunge in the system).

[Jimbob738]

thanks for swift simple answer much appriciated.

[stuc]

If it is running ok I would leave well alone, why do something that may cause you problems.

[Simon Jones]

If the coolant was flushed and replaced in September, then that's fine. However, normally when you do any major work on an engine, it's always wise to change the oil and coolant shortly afterwards to ensure any debris that is disturbed is removed, especially if the head has been off as there will have been bits that fall into the water jacket.

Prevention is generally better (and cheaper) than a cure