Antifreeze
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 753
Likes: 47
From: Clearfield Utah
Antifreeze
I have a 2019 GS with 3000 miles and due to age do I need to replace the antifreeze? I have read different opinions and the pro and cons of doing all of the fluids and tires do to age. Is this a unnecessary expense or is it really needed?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,877
Likes: 1,876
From: St. Louis Metro East IL
GM spec Dexcool (orange) needs to be changed every 5 years per the maintenance schedule.
Correct mix is 40% Dexcool / 60% water down to -18 F and 50/50 below that. See your owner's manual.
Ron
Correct mix is 40% Dexcool / 60% water down to -18 F and 50/50 below that. See your owner's manual.
Ron
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 753
Likes: 47
From: Clearfield Utah
Coolant life
I had read that and I assumed that it was time based not mileage. I was wondering what the C7 family was doing as a group.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
I replaced mine last year on 2018 C7. Cheap insurance to prevent any internal corrosion problems. I used Dexcool with 40 / 60 mix using distilled water. The old stuff looked fine when I drained it. That is the key right there - you don't want to wait until the corrosion is starting.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,521
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,521
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
I replaced mine last year on 2018 C7. Cheap insurance to prevent any internal corrosion problems. I used Dexcool with 40 / 60 mix using distilled water. The old stuff looked fine when I drained it. That is the key right there - you don't want to wait until the corrosion is starting.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
A chemical analysis would likely cost more than I spent to change it. I bought two gallons of Dexcool concentrate and three gallons of distilled water. Total cost was under $30. I will do the same thing again in 4 years or so. And the cost will probably be $60 - thanks to inflation. I still don't know how things seem to double in price over just a few years when they keep telling us inflation is not bad.
Now if it does start to look cloudy or off color, I will certainly change it sooner. But I doubt that will happen because Dexcool is a proven product.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,521
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
I did not say I looked at the fluid and decided it looked good so I did not need to change it. I changed it because it was approaching 5 years old. I mentioned it looked fine to discourage others from making the mistake of saying it does not need to be changed because it looked good.
A chemical analysis would likely cost more than I spent to change it. I bought two gallons of Dexcool concentrate and three gallons of distilled water. Total cost was under $30. I will do the same thing again in 4 years or so. And the cost will probably be $60 - thanks to inflation. I still don't know how things seem to double in price over just a few years when they keep telling us inflation is not bad.
Now if it does start to look cloudy or off color, I will certainly change it sooner. But I doubt that will happen because Dexcool is a proven product.
A chemical analysis would likely cost more than I spent to change it. I bought two gallons of Dexcool concentrate and three gallons of distilled water. Total cost was under $30. I will do the same thing again in 4 years or so. And the cost will probably be $60 - thanks to inflation. I still don't know how things seem to double in price over just a few years when they keep telling us inflation is not bad.
Now if it does start to look cloudy or off color, I will certainly change it sooner. But I doubt that will happen because Dexcool is a proven product.
For $45, it is more than just the cost of materials. However, it gives you insight to how things are progressing in your system.
I would suspect that if it really looks cloudy or is off colored, things are really far along.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,521
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,877
Likes: 1,876
From: St. Louis Metro East IL
It's all a matter of the coolant chemistry. I can recall changing coolant every 2 years when I was growing up (1964 Chevy BelAir). GM changed the coolant to Dexcool (orange) in 1996 and was good for 5 years. My new Subaru says blue coolant is good for 11 years. But Subie recommends oil changes every 6 months. Go figure...
Ron
Ron
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,521
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
I haven't owned my A8 for a year so not totally used to it yet. I did get the fluids flushed since it was new to me. I will have to look into that with Audi as to why they don't have a flush interval.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,877
Likes: 1,876
From: St. Louis Metro East IL
Guys,
Look in your owner's manual or online. The info is out there.
Audi recommends changing the coolant in your vehicle every 60,000 miles or four years, whichever comes first. However, the frequency of coolant changes can depend on a number of factors, including:
Look in your owner's manual or online. The info is out there.
Audi recommends changing the coolant in your vehicle every 60,000 miles or four years, whichever comes first. However, the frequency of coolant changes can depend on a number of factors, including:
- Driving conditions
If you drive your Audi in extreme temperatures, you may need to change the coolant more frequently.
- Type of coolant
Audi's proprietary coolant is designed to last longer, but other coolants may need to be changed more often. - Sediment buildup
Even with approved coolant, sediment can build up over time. Draining the coolant alone isn't enough, as up to 50% of the old coolant can remain in the engine block
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,521
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
Guys,
Look in your owner's manual or online. The info is out there.
Audi recommends changing the coolant in your vehicle every 60,000 miles or four years, whichever comes first. However, the frequency of coolant changes can depend on a number of factors, including:
Look in your owner's manual or online. The info is out there.
Audi recommends changing the coolant in your vehicle every 60,000 miles or four years, whichever comes first. However, the frequency of coolant changes can depend on a number of factors, including:
- Driving conditions
If you drive your Audi in extreme temperatures, you may need to change the coolant more frequently.
- Type of coolant
Audi's proprietary coolant is designed to last longer, but other coolants may need to be changed more often. - Sediment buildup
Even with approved coolant, sediment can build up over time. Draining the coolant alone isn't enough, as up to 50% of the old coolant can remain in the engine block
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,521
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
You don't know the other half of it. You aren't an owner so no access to the super secret manual for peasants like you. I have an app that can access the manual. Pretty cool, huh? You get to enter your VIN in EVERY SINGLE TIME you want to access something. You can't download it because Audi needs to keep such sensitive information from the unwashed masses. You want to look up anything and you get to enter the VIN again. So say you do that, look up the info and close it out? Nope. Enter the VIN in again. So, being smarter than most, I do that and leave the window open for the next time. Should be easier, right? Nope. Time Out if you don't use it. SERIOUSLY? Are you going to ask me for a retinal scan? Maybe DNA sample? WTF!!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,066
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,521
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
My anecdotal experience is changing the Dexcool every 5 years is a key maintenance item. Each time I have changed the coolant the old coolant looks almost the same as the new coolant which is something that I find interesting as I remember before Dexcool was introduced and changing the old green fluid every two years was a necessity with the drained fluid no longer looking green.
Back in the day, my 01 Excursion with the 7.3 Powerstroke diesel had the IAT coolant because Ford didn't want to use the ELC that International wanted to use. I mean, Ford bought that engine from International, what would they know. So you used the IAT coolant and added additive every 15K. Look all you want but you can't tell the difference when I put it in or not. I drained it all and replaced it with the ELC that was recommended. Why? So I don't have to keep adding additives to bring it barely up to par. Instead the ELC was way better and didn't need changing for 300K.