Coolant Q

[Payback45]

I was wondering how much on average a coolant change would cost? Or is it worth it to do it your self? I have never done it that is why I ask. Also, do we need to use a specific kind of coolant for our aluminium radiators?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Distilled water?

I use the standard 50/50 mix.

[Huffer]

I use Peak Global 50/50 w/ Subaru Conditioner.

[SilentRacer]

I use full subaru coolent. You can syphon your old coolent pretty easyly out of your radiator and use the subaru coolent conditioner along with normal coolent to clean it.

[Payback45]

So I do need to use a Subaru safe coolant. What about the cost to take it to a shop? IS it better to take it to a shop for this kind of thing or try to do it myself?

[ooberdoob]

there is a petcock very near the radiator hose outlet. (bottom hose) if your car for some reason does not have one, just but a bucket under there and pull the hose off. slowly. with the engine off and cold.

let it drain out. close petcock, fill. 6.4 USqts.

slowly fill with funnel through radiator cap, open the bleed screw next to the cap (if you have one)

once it's full to the top of the rad, start the car, cap off. let it idle, it'll bubble as it burps the system , keep filling until it takes no more. then top off overflow tank to appropriate level.

notes:
as your filling it initially and while running, you can squeeze the top hose to help burp it. sometimes it helps.
do your best and take your time when burping it... you really don't want hotspots in your engine from bubbles... it's all aluminum and it'll warp. it's the same as overheating, just in an isolated area. hard to manage that actually happening though.

edit: if you can't manage this, you should ride the shortbus. honestly. cake job. drain, fill, start, fill. that's it.

i would advise getting the coolant additive from subaru, it's to protect the head gaskets. speaking of, i need to swap my coolant out and add the additive too.

[Payback45]

So do you recommend a coolant that is safe for Subaru's? If so what brand?

[ooberdoob]

So do you recommend a coolant that is safe for Subaru's? If so what brand?

honesty, you can use what ever you want, as long as it's not GM's flavor called DEX-COOL you're fine. green, universal whatever. i'd use some prestone or a name-brand, but then again, most non-dealer shops use generic and it all works out.

your call.

some will say SUBARU PARTS! it's coolant. it's metal-filled glycol. it should be changed twice a year. not that big of a deal.

edit: 50/50 is kind of a rip off, but for the lazy or apartment dwellers like myself, it's reasonable for the simplicity. also that we have under 2 gallons of capacity. if more, like many domestics, fill one whole gallon of coolant, one gallon of water, etc.

[Payback45]

But what about the aluminum crankcase. I printed out a sheet from ALLDATA.com saying: CAUTION: The SUBARU Genuine Coolant containing antifreeze and anti-rust agents is especially made for SUBARU engines, which have an aluminum crankcase. Always use SUBARU Genuine Coolant, since other coolant may cause corrosion.

[Huffer]

That's why I use Peak Global 50/50 WITH the Subaru Conditioner.

Car has 200k+ on it, change the coolant once a year. Original radiator.

[Payback45]

Peak Long Life Antifreeze: 50/50 PreDiluted; Gallon
Long Life Antifreeze: 50/50 PreDiluted; Gallon Would this be OK with out the conditioner?

[Huffer]

I would always use the conditioner. It's only a $1.50 at the dealer.

[warrior]

I would always use the conditioner. It's only a $1.50 at the dealer.

Isn't the conditioner only to temporarily patch the head gasket issue? My subaru mechanic said that in the long run it's not effective at all and since I've installed new head gaskets that I don't need it.. so I never put it in.. but I never truly understood what this mystery conditioner does.

[Payback45]

Coolant has been changed with no problems. Thank you all for your help.
Bought the coolant conditioner at the stealership.

[SilentRacer]

For me, the conditioner sealed a hole I had somewhere in the radiator.

[Huffer]

I would always use the conditioner. It's only a $1.50 at the dealer.

Isn't the conditioner only to temporarily patch the head gasket issue? My subaru mechanic said that in the long run it's not effective at all and since I've installed new head gaskets that I don't need it.. so I never put it in.. but I never truly understood what this mystery conditioner does.

It's an additive that helps to protect the alloy metals in the radiator.
Remember - coolant is effectively glycol and water. The rad is metal.
Metal + water = corrosion. For a $1.50, I'm not about to argue with ISO-9000 certified labrats, vs. the advice my mechanic gave me.
It's cheap insurance - the best kind!

[SilentRacer]

whats the reason for 50/50 with distilled water as opposed to running full coolent?

[Huffer]

It's a compromise in cost vs. toxicity.
It's also what the factory manuals recommend.

There are 100% coolants out there, like this one:
http://www.lubricationspecialist.com/fr ... ?fileid=21 (http://www.lubricationspecialist.com/front/showcontent.aspx?fileid=21)

[Bdubs]

Already been stated, but just make sure its distilled water, using regular tap water or spring water will clog the insides of the radiator over time because of the minerals in the water.
I wish I had a picture of my Jeep's radiator. The lady before me ruined the radiator by adding tap water to the coolant for 8+ years. All the reeds were covered in this nasty looking white mineral.

[ooberdoob]

50/50 premix is for the lazy (like me when not in a shop)

50/50 mix itself is the most applicable balance of cooling vs freeze protection. water cools better than coolant, but coolant protect metal components, lubricates the water pump/t-stat, and provides the obvious freeze protection.

the subaru stuff is a preventative measure against our doomed HGs.