A coolant flush drains the old coolant, cleans the system of sediment and rust, and refills it with the correct coolant type at the correct mix. AutoTech Clinic does this at our Dearborn shop, and we test the old coolant first so you know whether you actually need it.
Coolant does more than stop freezing and boiling. It carries an additive package that protects aluminum, steel and gaskets from corrosion, and that package wears out long before the coolant looks dirty.
- How Long
- About 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Same Day
- Usually finished the same day.
- Vehicles
- Foreign and domestic, cars through trucks.
Signs You Need Coolant Flush
- Coolant that looks brown, rusty or murky rather than bright and clear
- Floating particles or sludge in the reservoir
- You have passed the interval in the owner manual
- Coolant that has been topped up with water or a different color coolant
- A heater that has become gradually weaker over a few winters
- Corrosion or white crust around hose connections and the radiator cap
What We Do
- 01
Test the Coolant First
We check freeze protection, pH and condition. If the coolant is still doing its job we will tell you to come back later.
- 02
Identify the Correct Type
Coolants are not interchangeable, and mixing types can gel. We use the specification your manufacturer requires rather than a universal product.
- 03
Drain and Flush
We drain the radiator and block where drains are provided and flush the system to clear sediment and old coolant from the heater core and passages.
- 04
Inspect While It Is Empty
With the system drained we check hoses, clamps, the cap, the reservoir and the water pump weep hole. It is the right moment to catch a part about to fail.
- 05
Refill, Bleed and Pressure Test
We refill at the correct mix, bleed air out fully, pressure test and run to temperature to confirm fan operation and heat at the vents.
Why Mixing Coolant Types Causes Problems
There are several coolant chemistries in use, and the color is not a reliable guide because manufacturers dye them differently. Mixing an organic acid coolant with a conventional one can drop the additives out of suspension and form a gel that blocks the heater core and radiator.
If your coolant has been topped up with whatever was on the shelf, tell us. A flush to get the system back onto one correct coolant is far cheaper than a blocked heater core.
Protection Against a Michigan Winter
A correct 50/50 mix protects to roughly 34 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, which is well beyond anything Dearborn sees. A system topped up with water through the summer may only protect to a few degrees below freezing.
Frozen coolant expands and can crack a radiator, a heater core or an engine block. We test freeze protection as part of every cooling system check, and it takes under a minute.
What Affects the Cost
We quote your vehicle specifically after inspecting it, because these are the things that move the number up or down:
- Coolant type, as some long life formulas cost considerably more
- System capacity, which varies from about 6 to 20 quarts
- Whether block drains are accessible or the system must be flushed in place
- Hoses, clamps or a cap replaced during the service
- How contaminated the system is and how long it takes to run clean
Call (313) 277-7200 with your year, make and model and we will tell you what to expect before you come in.
Why AutoTech Clinic
AAA Approved
An inspected facility that has to meet AAA standards for equipment and training.
Photos First
You see what we found and approve the price before anything is taken apart.
Same-Day Service
Parts on hand for the vehicles we see most, so you are not waiting on a delivery.