Why Change Your Coolant?
Overheating - Old, depleted coolant can't do it's job of helping your engine shed heat -- and heat is enemy #1. That's why you have a cooling system in the first place.Corrosion - More cooling system parts are now made with aluminum. In fact, the tubes in your radiator are only the thickness of a soda can top. Since aluminum is very vulnerable to corrosion, old, depleted coolant can allow pin holes to form in the tubes and lead to leakage an overheating.
Clogging - When aluminum corrodes, the by-products of corrosion deposit in the radiator. The deposits clog the radiator and actually act like insulators so the system can't cool as well. As the cooling system gets hotter, even more deposits form. Finally, the whole engine overheats.
Leaks - As heat builds in a neglected cooling system, the coolant starts to boil more vigorously and can actually blast holes in your water pump or promote seal failure. The result is loss of coolant and ultimately vehicle breakdown.
Why Change Continued
Antifreeze/Coolant experts have a warning for those neglecting their cooling systems. Most people have some idea that antifreeze/coolant helps prevent the radiator and cooling system from freezing up or boiling over. Few people understand that coolant also contains special chemical additives to prevent serious damage from rust and corrosion. However, over time, the additives wear out. This depleted coolant becomes acidic and can actually corrode the metals in the cooling system. There's where your trouble begins.
How do I know when I Should change my Coolant/Antifreeze?
Here's a great way to remember to check and change your coolant. Most people change antifreeze in the fall. A good way to remember is to check and change your antifreeze when you change your clocks back from Daylight Savings Time. All drivers get into this important maintenance habit.
How does the Qwik Draw Coolant Exchange Flush Machine work?
The Qwik Draw vacuums old coolant from the radiator, engine block, and heater core to the Old Coolant Tank through the radiator neck or reservoir tank and replaces it with new coolant from the New Coolant Tank in less than 5 minutes. Qwik Draw models with a flush tank also flush the cooling system with water and cleaning agent and then extract it. The Qwik Draw uses shop air to create a vacuum or build pressure in its tanks; no electric power is used.
How Long can a vehicle be kept running without fluid after the old coolant is extracted?
A vehicle can run without overheating for several minutes after the old coolant is extracted. However, standard operating procedure is to open the New Coolant Valve immediately after the old coolant is extracted to begin releasing new coolant into the vehicle.
How long does a coolant exchange take?
Vacuuming old coolant from the radiator, engine block, and heater core and replacing it with new coolant takes less than 5 minutes with the Qwik Draw Coolant Line. The old conventional way takes allot longer (40+ Minutes) and today’s smaller capacity cooling systems with pressurized coolant reservoirs and heater circuits that often trap air make coolant changes much more challenging. Draining the radiator can often leave several quarts or more of old coolant in the engine block. So the Old conventional way of draining coolant is not 100%
How much coolant can the Qwik Draw vacuum from a vehicle?
Up to 96 percent of the old coolant can be vacuumed from a vehicle when it is at normal operating temperature and its thermostat is open.
Is it normal for the radiator hoses to collapse?
Yes, it is common for the radiator hoses to collapse. This only means that the old coolant is being drawn out of the cooling system creating a vacuum in the system. After all of the old coolant has been removed, this vacuum will pull new coolant from the Qwik Draw New Coolant Tank into the cooling system until it is filled.
How do you dispose of the old coolant?
Old coolant is discharged from the Qwik Draw into a proper waste container by using shop air to build up pressure in the Old Coolant Tank, thereby forcing the old coolant out. Old coolant waste containers must be disposed of according to your city or state laws and regulations.
How big are the Qwik Draw Coolant Exchange Flush Machines?
The Qwik Draw Coolant Exchange Flush Machine models are all compact and easy to maneuver. Their heavy duty caster wheels – two swivel and two fixed – allow them to be easily rolled into any tight space in the shop or tilted and rolled under partially elevated lifts or other low clearance obstacles. The dimensions and weights of each of the Qwik Draw models are shown on that machines product page.
