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How do you know its time for a coolant change?

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Esteban Salinas

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May 4, 2003, 5:25:02 PM5/4/03
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Hello All,
One more question for you....as i mentioned in a previous post i bought
a used jeep, i have no idea when the coolant was last flushed. Are there any
indicators of bad/old coolant? Thanks for the info,
Esteban Salinas


Dave Milne

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May 4, 2003, 5:41:40 PM5/4/03
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You can't tell [well, you can if its brown / may be able to
with a hydrometer ]. I'd change it now, and then every
subsequent 36 months and use a 50/50 mix with
distilled water unless you live somewhere exceptionally
cold. Congratulations on your latest acquisition !

Dave Milne, Scotland
'99 TJ 4.0 Sahara

"Esteban Salinas" <estevan...@comcast.com> wrote in message
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Esteban Salinas

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May 4, 2003, 6:30:54 PM5/4/03
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Thanks! I think that will also be me at rest....at least then I will know
when the last time it was changed was!

"Dave Milne" <jeep@_nospam_milne.info> wrote in message
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Mike Romain

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May 4, 2003, 6:51:47 PM5/4/03
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When unknown, change it.

Even if it looks clean, it still breaks down for corrosion protection
over time so changing it to the right mix for your climate on a 'new'
vehicle is always a good idea. Clean fluid can still be 'worn out'.
Same for an oil and filter change.

The tranny and diffs should be checked for fluid levels too. If their
is any 'milky' look to them, they need changing ASAP.

I saw your other post and the lights coming on with the key in run is
pretty normal for most vehicles. I use that mode even in my 86 CJ7 to
check my battery status if it has been sitting.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

jbjeep

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May 4, 2003, 7:08:24 PM5/4/03
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Thats assuming you use the green coolant. The "new" orange coolant that is out is not mixed with water.


On Sun, 04 May 2003 21:41:40 GMT, "Dave Milne" <jeep@_nospam_milne.info> wrote:

--You can't tell [well, you can if its brown / may be able to
--with a hydrometer ]. I'd change it now, and then every
--subsequent 36 months and use a 50/50 mix with
--distilled water unless you live somewhere exceptionally
--cold. Congratulations on your latest acquisition !
--
--Dave Milne, Scotland
--'99 TJ 4.0 Sahara
--
--"Esteban Salinas" <estevan...@comcast.com> wrote in message
--news:_cecnS-AA_P...@comcast.com...
--> Hello All,
--> One more question for you....as i mentioned in a previous post i
--bought
--> a used jeep, i have no idea when the coolant was last flushed. Are there
--any
--> indicators of bad/old coolant? Thanks for the info,
--> Esteban Salinas
-->
-->
--

David C. Moller

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May 4, 2003, 7:09:24 PM5/4/03
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Exactly.... that's what I was going to recommend. You can't be certain
of the maintenance of a vehicle before you own it, but you can be
certain after (once you've changed all the fluids).

Dave
http://home1.gte.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

Earle Horton

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May 4, 2003, 7:24:53 PM5/4/03
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I put 70 U. S. gallons of ethylene glycol coolant (regular automotive
antifreeze) and 70 gallons of water in the cast iron and steel heating
system of my house. I don't plan on changing that any time soon! By the
way, I have the original coolant in my 1995 YJ which I bought new, only
topped off with new coolant and distilled water. I don't plan to change
that any time soon either. Since you don't know what was done with your
Jeep before you bought it, I would recommend one coolant change soon if the
stuff looks dirty, but I don't know what the rest of these guys are talking
about...

I "never" have cooling system problems either, except for used GM products
which always seem to have a leaky heater core right after I buy them.
"What's that smell? Oh, I must have bought another used Chevy."

Earle

"Esteban Salinas" <estevan...@comcast.com> wrote in message
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Lon Stowell

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May 4, 2003, 7:30:36 PM5/4/03
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It should smell reasonably good and not look like thin
brown mud. If the coolant is reasonably transparent
it is probably fairly fresh. If it is fairly opaque
you might want to change it. The really obsessive use
distilled or demineralized water, which in some locations
is a pretty good idea.

Mark12211

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May 4, 2003, 10:56:38 PM5/4/03
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Quicklube or Midas will change your coolant for about $70.

Don't let pep boys top off your fluid, they use the pink stuff, even if you
have green in there. Pink and Green make an ugly color, and the idiots who
change your oil will tell you need another flush and fill.

Don't let them talk you into changing all the 4X4 fluids. They'll want to do
it when the fluid in there is hot. Then they'll put cold fluid on your hot
gears, and things will never be right.


_____
,[_____],Ż|\
-Š|||||||Š--|ŻŻ|ŻŻ|
(_( ŻŻŻ (_()ŻŻ (_()

Paul Keating

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May 4, 2003, 11:52:43 PM5/4/03
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Some of the green stuff is "pre-mixed" now too.

Last time I was at the local auto place, I couldn't even find the full
strength stuff..

Paul

Earle Horton

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May 5, 2003, 12:23:28 AM5/5/03
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Heh, some times the mixed stuff costs more than the full strength stuff.
Watch what you are buying. I like the "electronically purified water," too.
Like this stuff is any better than distilled water in milk jugs like you can
buy from the supermarket...

Earle

"Paul Keating" <p...@rogers.com> wrote in message
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Carlo Jr.

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May 5, 2003, 12:58:17 AM5/5/03
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And then there is always the voltmeter trick (> .4volts = electrolysis)
but I, also would change all fluids soon after a purchase.... just to sleep
@ night

--
Carlo F. Serusa, Jr. RPh
carlojr@attbi
'98 Sahara TJ - '89 YJ - '79 Scout II
O|||||||O
'92 Explorer '65 Mustang


"Dave Milne" <jeep@_nospam_milne.info> wrote in message
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Jeff Olsen

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May 5, 2003, 2:55:23 AM5/5/03
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It should be nice and green and hopefully not too cloudy looking.

If it's brown at all, it's time to change it, or past time.

-jeff

mabar

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May 5, 2003, 8:13:39 AM5/5/03
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Depends on which kind you get. Antifreeze is available pre-mixed, 50/50
water antifreeze, or full strength that you mix yourself.

I always buy the full strength and mix it myself.

Tom

"jbjeep" <jbj...@saw.net> wrote in message
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Mike Romain

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May 5, 2003, 8:55:11 AM5/5/03
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That blew me away.

I couldn't believe I was seeing mixed stuff at a higher price than
straight.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Snow

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May 5, 2003, 9:40:13 AM5/5/03
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Very Important ** DO NOT ** MIX the GREEN anti-freeze (coolant) with the
newer orange (red) stuff. It makes a real nasty mess of things as for the
most part they are NOT compatible.

Snow...
http://www.canama.ca/


"Esteban Salinas" <estevan...@comcast.com> wrote in message

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Gary

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May 5, 2003, 12:26:22 PM5/5/03
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So where do you dispose of your used antifreeze? None of the auto
parts stores, including Autozone, will take it.

Lon Stowell

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May 5, 2003, 12:42:15 PM5/5/03
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Maybe it comes from Nevada where water costs more than
gasoline?

John Davies

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May 5, 2003, 4:12:31 PM5/5/03
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On 5 May 2003 09:26:22 -0700, tyt...@att.net (Gary) wrote:

>So where do you dispose of your used antifreeze? None of the auto
>parts stores, including Autozone, will take it.

All local recycling/ transfer stations in my area take used coolant.
Call your local trash collection company and ask for a list of
recycling centers that will take old fluids.


John Davies
Monroe WA USA

2001 Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon - FOR SALE!!!
2000 Audi A4 quattro 1.8T - never for sale
1991 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4x4 - soon for sale...
1996 Lexus LX450 - mods in progress....

Rich Hampel

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May 5, 2003, 5:13:07 PM5/5/03
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Easy.....
Open the radiator cap, look in to visualize the inside of the 'tubes'.
If they are 'crusty', coated with lots of scale and other 'crap' ...
then you need to flush, descale, and refresh/renew the coolant.

Best 'flush' is probably a product called "Marsolve" ... will descale
the cooling system but won't disolve the engine's base metal. Get it
from a Marine supplier: Boat/US or West Marine, etc. Will clean out all
the 'crap' in the heater coil and you will have heat again after
descaling!!!!
Most other "flushing" compounds are acids and can remove the engine's
base metal, some folks dont care and use diluted muriatic or
hyrdochloric acid.

I'd use de-Ionized or demineralized water for the refil. ... no need to
re-introduce all those carbonates again to re-foul the system.

jbjeep

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May 5, 2003, 9:37:32 PM5/5/03
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well...I sorta dripped it all out along the trail. =(

Dont know...I let a mechanic deal with it last time I had to flush the system (it was winter - decided it was worth the $ to
let him get soaking wet and cold.).


On 5 May 2003 09:26:22 -0700, tyt...@att.net (Gary) wrote:

--So where do you dispose of your used antifreeze? None of the auto
--parts stores, including Autozone, will take it.

Clem

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May 6, 2003, 11:10:23 PM5/6/03
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"Earle Horton" <ear...@doglover.com> wrote in message
news:b9478s$fhkuf$1...@ID-147790.news.dfncis.de...

> I put 70 U. S. gallons of ethylene glycol coolant (regular automotive
> antifreeze) and 70 gallons of water in the cast iron and steel heating
> system of my house.

Wow! I bet they looked at you funny at the cashier counter.

Dave Milne

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May 7, 2003, 4:27:41 AM5/7/03
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Probably assumed he had a big Ford :-)

Dave Milne, Scotland
'99 TJ 4.0 Sahara

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Lon Stowell

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May 7, 2003, 12:59:45 PM5/7/03
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Naw, he told them he was a frenchman, making a bunch
of wine.


Dave Milne

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May 7, 2003, 3:59:31 PM5/7/03
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That was 17 years ago, how time passes !

Dave Milne, Scotland
'99 TJ 4.0 Sahara

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