Hi what's the best coolant to use before the cold weather comes? And how easy is it to change yourself, any instructions would be appreciated also how much will I need and where to buy it from thanks

 

If it's before 2003 52plate u will need blue coolant
After will be red coolant. If its a new age then on the bottom left u have a tap to drain the old coolant, then u take the top left pipe out and re fill the tank. When it wills the tank then blow down the top left pipe on the rad and u keep doing this until the coolant comes out of the top left rad.

 

[QUOTE=b16msu265;10227764]If it's before 2003 52plate u will need blue coolant
After will be red coolant. If its a new age then on the bottom left u have a tap to drain the old coolant, then u take the top left pipe out and re fill the tank. When it wills the tank then blow down the top left pipe on the rad and u keep doing this until the coolant comes out of the top left rad.

Are coolant colours not just a die? Have you got product names, its a blob eye so should have a tap. My uneducated plan was to open the tap and run water through the radiator until it was coming out clear, then close the tap/plug and fill the radiator till the expansion bottle is at the correct level, I take it this is well of the mark then

 

No its not dye. There made from different stuff. Red is longer lasting. Id drain it. Fill with water run it and drain again a couple of times to flush the old stuff out. Then fill with nice new red stuff.
The red and blue shouldnt be mixed

 

When you say run it do you mean the engine? If so for how long Each time?

 

Yep
run it to flush the complete system. Your only draining the rad. Theres still going to be old coolant in the engine,heater and hoses.

Run it for about 15 mins with the cap off and heater in the hot position.
Id fill with water twice and run it.

Be carefull when draining as the waters going to be hot or wait for it to cool after running before draining

 

Still looking for a product name peeps considering buying straight from Subaru and any suggestions where to get it from

 

Think the red advanced coolant from halfords is good enough it's on offer at the moment as well, just don't use tap water to dilute it deionised water is best

 

I use unipart red. But any brand will do the job. As above the halfords stuff. Originally the car would have had green but thats almost impossible to get now. No need to go to subaru for it. It will cost the earth from them

 

what about the older age cars i have a classic and looking to change mine before the winter, Is there just a drainage plug on the bottom of the rad, or does it involve removing the bottom hose to drain?

many thanks

Ben

 

When i changed my coolant...

Remove bottom rad hose
Remove thermostat
Remove top rad hose from rad

Flush (using hosepipe)

Turbo hose (top part of system from header tank)
Header Tank
Top rad hose (backwards through block and out where thermostat should be)
Top of rad out of bottom hose.

I flushed each of these for a few minutes at a time.

Refilling.

Refit Thermostat
Refit Bottom and top rad hose.
Fill Coolant from turbo hose at a slow and steady pace.(leave header tank and rad caps off)
I got roughly 5 litres through the turbo hose Before it started coming out.
Fit Rad cap.
Fill overflow tank with a bit of coolant.
Start engine, heat setting to max, low fan speed. Idle for 5 mins then switch off (any air from rad etc will find its way to the top of the system.)
CAREFULLY remove rad cap to allow pressure to escape.
Again using turbo hose got another 1.5 litres in.
Fit Rad and Header tank caps. Run Engine over 2000rpm for a minute, heat setting full fan speed high. Switch off engine.
Allow to cool for an hour.
Remove header cap and fill remaining coolant.

This is on a MY06 Hawk sti. Filled total off 7.3 Litres.

Runs like a dream! Everyone has different methods, this however was mine and it seemed to have worked beautifully. Havent had any issues of air traps etc... Been going for 5 months now.

Edit: I used the halfords concetrate stuffs with ionised water at a 50/50 mix

 

Mine is a classic Xreg and its an AWD sport so its a non turbo so hopefully should be a little easier, thanks for the help buddy

Ben

 

can still get green coolant, comma extreme green g48, used it in all my imprezas.
Jay

 

I also sell this at work, albeit not very often. I actually checked my level today and after taking the Rad cap off I noticed I have green antifreeze. If I can't get it from work cos we only get it in every now and then, then I'll have to get it from halfords. For the few years it lasts its not much expense, especially to make sure its running right.

 

can someone give me a grade out of 10 how hard this job is to do please, i done lots of work on cars before, but you know when its all going smoothly something will always ***** up

cheers Ben

 

good to know want to do mine before it get's really cold out there and dont know how long it's been in