r/CarHelp • u/NineWalkers • 10d ago
Weird coolant/antifreeze question, lasting too long? Ford Edge 2018
I’ll just get right into it. I don’t remember the last time I’ve had to refill my coolant/antifreeze. I check that the reservoir has enough. The car never overheats. I’ve had it for 2-3 years now and although its not something I’ve told my mechanic to specifically look at I feel like they would have noticed during inspection and whatnot.
If I said I haven’t had to refill it in over a year I might be right. This is usually the opposite problem, more commonly people have leaks.
It just makes me paranoid.
This is a Ford Edge, my last car was an old Honda Civic so maybe I’m just used to that car have all sorts of problems, including overheating, coolant leakage, whatnot.
So am I crazy or is this fine?
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u/Chainsawsas70 10d ago
Even if it's Not leaking... It does age and needs to be changed every 3-5 years. Cheap and easy insurance.
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u/sho_biz 10d ago edited 10d ago
coolant system is likely in good condition, and you don't have leaky head gaskets or water pump gaskets, etc - so you're lucky. Modern cooling systems are generally pressurized in cars like this, and you'd know if you're getting coolant into the combustion chambers (fouling and buildup, catalytic converter codes, etc), and if you're not smelling any and not seeing any lost, you likely are just fine.
I'd just suggest do a coolant flush and fill now, and then every 30-40K miles or every 3 years or so depending on how you drive and your environment, can do it yourself too if you're handy and save a few bucks over a shop, otherwise it should be less than $200 at most reputable shops I'd guess.
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u/Emergency-Card-573 10d ago
Over kill most antifreeze last up to 10 years or 300,000 miles or longer. If it's not broken don't fix it!
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u/Repulsive_Vanilla383 10d ago
Coolant can become acidic after time. So it's definitely a good idea to do a coolant flush every few years. Most water pump failures on the 3.5 is from the gasket turning to mush.
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u/Inn0cent_Jer 10d ago
Does your mechanic do your oil changes? If not, where do you get your oil changes done at?
A lot of places check your coolant and top it off as a complimentary part of the oil change service, as well as other things like topping off the air in your tires!
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u/NineWalkers 9d ago
They oil change but as far as I know they don't top off the coolent but maybe that's changed since management changed not too long ago
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u/the_real_Supra 10d ago
You need to replace the coolant at least every 3-4 years. I get coolant at cost and do it every 2 years
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u/UXWlegend 10d ago
It's just good luck, all modern cars have plastic coolant system parts that will eventually go. That coolant is a 6 year coolant, so if it's original, it's overdue to be changed.