Question about antifreeze

[xsalernox]

hey guys since this is my first car i owned, this would be the first time adding antifreeze to it..i had the car for 3 years and after i regualr oil change i saw that my antifreeze cylinder tube was about 1/4 full and smelt really really awful...

my question is should i have flushed the old AF out and put in new AF?...because i just added Prestone pre mix to it to top it up.

i driven it for 3 days since and haven't had any changes..is this bad..is there a way to get rid of all the AF fluid out of the cylinder and lines?

any feedback would be great

[CirrusSR22]

You might as well replace it. My general theory is that there's no reason not to do preventative maintenance if you're unsure, especially if you can do it yourself for cheap. Fresh coolant shouldn't cost you any more than $20.

If you were to drain the radiator, plus pull the engine block drain, you will get the majority of it out. You could also run a hose into the radiator expansion tank with the radiator and block plugs pulled for a little better rinse if it's really nasty. When you drain, also make sure you have the heater control turned to hot. Then a simple refill with fresh stuff will be just fine - you'll have basically a clean system then. Go with BMW branded antifreeze from the dealer, or another good "aftermarket" option is Zerex G-05.

[pdxmotorhead]

The real BMW coolant has a much higher content of aluminum protecting chemicals. Its worth the money. IMHO. It should help prevent rot of the radiator and the plumbing in general.

Dave

[zoner]

Originally Posted by pdxmotorhead

The real BMW coolant has a much higher content of aluminum protecting chemicals. Its worth the money. IMHO. It should help prevent rot of the radiator and the plumbing in general.

Dave

+1

(if nothing else, the peace of mind is worth the extra $10 to me)