Change Coolant?
02-26-2014, 09:52 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-14-2012
Location: Oceanport,NJ
Posts: 35
Change Coolant?
The owners manual states that I should change the coolant at 150,000 miles or five years.My 2009 HHR is just about to hit the 5 year mark(April).I only have 26,500 miles on it.Would it be ok to maybe stretch out the time limit maybe another year since it has such low miles? As you can see I only put maybe 5,000 miles a year on it.Another year would still only have me at about 32,000 miles.I heard that time maybe breaks down the coolant in some way(hence the 5 year limit).Just wondering.
02-26-2014, 10:52 AM
#2
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Join Date: 04-09-2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 7,032
The owners manual states that I should change the coolant at 150,000 miles or five years.My 2009 HHR is just about to hit the 5 year mark(April).I only have 26,500 miles on it.Would it be ok to maybe stretch out the time limit maybe another year since it has such low miles? As you can see I only put maybe 5,000 miles a year on it.Another year would still only have me at about 32,000 miles.I heard that time maybe breaks down the coolant in some way(hence the 5 year limit).Just wondering.
If you don't change it as per the manufacturer, just don't complain if you have a problem with your heater core, rad or water pump down the road.
02-26-2014, 10:54 AM
#3
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Join Date: 04-09-2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 7,032
So, let it go till it's rusty, then change it???? Totally bad advice about the additional 5 years.
02-26-2014, 04:38 PM
#4
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Join Date: 10-13-2009
Location: sterling hts mich.
Posts: 186
not sure it will turn rusty because of mostly aluminum construction. The additives wear out and you lose the corrossion protection. My 09 only has 51,000 but I will be changing the coolant and ATF this spring anyway. To me it is cheap insurance.
02-26-2014, 04:45 PM
#5
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Join Date: 11-21-2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 890
My 09 has 41,000 Kilometres and I changed it last year. Seeing as it was built in 08. I follow the five year rule but everyone's different. We are close to having the same mileage, but I guess it depends on how long you plan on keeping your stationwagon.
Last edited by Tyler Harvey; 02-27-2014 at 08:15 PM.
02-26-2014, 11:20 PM
#6
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Join Date: 01-09-2007
Location: SE USA
Posts: 15,855
02-27-2014, 04:37 PM
#8
Technical Moderator
Join Date: 01-23-2009
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Posts: 24,662
Are you guys trying to say that Manufacturer Recommendations are given for a reason? Says the guy that changes his oil every other time the DIC says to.
Well, if you don't follow their recommendations they are off the hook. No Bi itching or moaning accepted for bad performance.
Well, if you don't follow their recommendations they are off the hook. No Bi itching or moaning accepted for bad performance.
03-15-2014, 02:52 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: 06-21-2008
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,449
Here's an interesting article on coolant:
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/124
And since I have read it, I have decided I will get the coolant changed with my next oil change.
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/124
And since I have read it, I have decided I will get the coolant changed with my next oil change.
03-15-2014, 07:33 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: 06-12-2013
Location: Tyler, Texas
Posts: 107
My 2008 2LT 2.4 has only 16k miles and I just had the system flushed and coolant replaced last week. Just bought the car last June. Also had the ignition cylinder replaced under GM special warranty #12089 which is separate and apart from the current recall. It is for binding and not being able to turn off the engine or remove the key. I wasn't having a problem with it but asked them to replace it anyway so I wouldn't have a problem in the future. Replaced free of charge.
