Coolant change interval

catcarguy

My mechanic who has been honest with me for the past 20 years insists the coolant needs to be changed every two years. He said GM tried to make it last to 100,000 miles and found it doesn't last. Everything I can find on the internet confirms if you buy the long lasting type it can last 100,000 miles. What gives? thanks.

thecardoc3

Consumer pressure has tried to force a link between price and honesty. In order to "be honest" your mechanics prices have likely been below the point where he/she could have both the time and the money to continually attend updated training classes and therefore has fallen behind with the technology that is in the cars. He/she has likely seen the Dexcool coolant fail prematurely and without updated training doesn't know why that occurred. Since they didn't know why the coolant was failing they adopted a policy of servicing the systems before that happens. Meanwhile changes in the system that keep air out of it now allow the coolant to last for a very long time, in fact it can last well beyond the recommended service interval.

Your mechanic isn't alone with not having kept up with their education and that is one of the reasons that finding qualified technicians is going to get much more difficult than it already is in the near and extended future.

stever

I replaced some coolant a while back - had a hose blow. Otherwise I don't mess with it or transmission fluid.

Mr_Shiftright

What year is your car?