This is how often you should change your coolant and it's not necessarily every 30,000 miles

If you’ve ever wondered how often should you change your coolant, the answer isn’t quite as simple as the old ‘every 30,000 miles’ rule.

Coolant, or antifreeze, quietly keeps your engine alive by regulating temperature and fighting corrosion.

But just like motor oil, it doesn’t last forever.

Ignore it long enough, and that colorful liquid will end up causing you some real issues.

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How often to change your coolant depends on what’s in the car

Coolant’s main job is simple: keep your engine from overheating or freezing.

But over time, its corrosion-fighting additives break down, allowing rust and debris to form inside your cooling system.

These particles can clog narrow passages in your radiator, water pump, or heater core, blocking coolant flow and causing temperatures to skyrocket.

Suddenly, your moment of laziness could leave you stranded with an overheating engine, and a large repair bill.

So, how often should you change your coolant?

Turns out there’s no simple answer, as it really depends on what’s in your car.

Older vehicles often use Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) coolant (which is typically green), with a change interval of about every 30,000 miles or two years.

This type of coolant relies on silicates and phosphates for corrosion protection, but degrades faster than newer blends.

Always check your owner’s manual

Modern vehicles, however, tend to run on long-life coolants that last far longer.

Organic Acid Technology (OAT) formulas can go for up to 150,000 miles or five years, thanks to advanced organic corrosion inhibitors.

Then there’s Hybrid OAT (HOAT), a clever blend of old and new that provides extended protection, favored by brands like Ford, Chrysler, and BMW.

Cars from Japanese and Korean manufacturers, like Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, usually prefer Phosphated HOAT, designed to match their specific engines and materials.

Of course, no amount of technology can make coolant last forever.

Check your owner’s manual, and don’t assume the same coolant schedule fits every car.

While things like coolant and motor oil are (usually) cheap, engines aren’t.

As it turns out, many of the most useful fixes for cars tend to be really cheap, yet has the potential to save tons of money in repair bills.

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