Your car maker's log book makes recommendations for how often to flush your cooling system, It is generally advised that you have your coolant flushed every two years or 40,000 km’s depending on which comes first. However, your engine type and size, local seasons, the age of your existing coolant, and the total distance driven all affect how regular you have to replace the coolant in your radiator.

At Mortdale Automotive Services, we provide at your request a full 65 point safety check for free as part of any minor, major or log book service on your vehicle. This includes checking the coolant in your system and the written report will tell you if we feel a radiator flush, coolant replacement or any repairs are necessary to maintain the safety and performance of your vehicle.

With Time rust and scale deposits accumulate and the whole system becomes choked and it stops being effective at cooling and protecting your car. This build up of rust and debris can damage the important parts of your cooling system including your water pump, radiator, hoses and thermostat, this can reduce the lifespan of those parts and leading to expensive repairs or replacements in the future.

While you can certainly find plenty of advice on how to flush a radiator yourself – it’s not something we would advise you to do. These days, vehicles are much more complex and mistakes like incomplete flushing or changing the coolant in your vehicle without flushing can disturb the sediment and cause blockages in your thermostat or radiator. It's sensible to have your systems checked regularly by a qualified mechanic, and properly flushed before being refilled with the recommended coolant type, the system purged of any air pockets, and then the whole system checked by a professional again to ensure full working order and to prevent any costly breakdowns in the future.
Radiator coolant is toxic and needs to be handled very carefully. It has a sweet smell which can be inviting to children and pets so proper storage is very important – having an expert do this job for you means not handling or having dangerous chemicals around your house. Dangerous coolant also needs to be disposed of in a safe way, professional workshops can have the coolant recycled or properly disposed of to save the environment.