Coolant repalcement schedule

[CitROeNALD]

From what I understand the coolant replacement schedule for the C4 Grand MK2 1.6 blue hdi is 10 years.

My car has been serviced by a citroen dealer each year, and includes them doing a coolant check. I assumed that if there was ever an issue with the PH or the antifreeze properties they would flag it up.

But I have noticed in the last few years the coolant has begun to lose it's strong blue colour, it is more like very pale blue now, as if it is losing it's properties.

I have also realised, that a lot of the 10 year claims are mainly by manufacturers, and that most replacement coolant you can buy only seem to quote 5 years.

The car is on it's 8th year now, so is it worth just replacing the coolant anyway. Is it one of these things like oil where the manufacturers try to extend the replacement time as much as possible (assuming lab conditions) to make maintenance costs seem as low as possible? Whereas the fluid should be actually be replaced much sooner for real world longevity.

[RichardW]

If it's 8 years old it wants a cambelt and water pump anyway, so that will change the coolant.

[CitROeNALD]

If it's 8 years old it wants a cambelt and water pump anyway, so that will change the coolant.

I'm pretty sure they are due at 10 years, hence me thinking about doing it just to refresh it for the next 2 years.

[RichardW]

Whilst Citroen say 10 years / 100k miles they like to break / shed teeth early. Unless you want to get into a top end rebuild 8yrs / 80k miles is pretty much the limit.

[CitROeNALD]

Whilst Citroen say 10 years / 100k miles they like to break / shed teeth early. Unless you want to get into a top end rebuild 8yrs / 80k miles is pretty much the limit.

Ahh that is interesting. Mine is on 8 years at only 30k. So I thought the chances of it needing it before 10 based on my low mileage, well serviced and considerate use, would mean it was easily safe for 10.

So now you have given me something else to think about...hmm

[PaulC5]

There was a topic on here last week where a cam belt had snapped at 10 years old, I am sure the owner wishes it had been done earlier. If the damaged engine is repaired it will still need a new cam belt so just made the job far more expensive and off the road for a long time and it needed to be recovered. viewtopic.php?t=89961

I am of the opinion if a car is being kept then replace the cam belt (plus water pump and tensioner) sooner, on the Cactus it was done at 7 years. Having it done sooner also removes the worry/gamble it will last the 10 years. If you are able to inspect the cam belt it might give you confidence to leave replacement to a later date. On our 2003 C3 a top cover could be removed easily so I inspected it every service but still replaced it at 8 years. The coolant in the Cactus has been replaced again at nearly 10 years as the radiator leaked needing a replacement.

On our 2019 308 the service schedule on coolant is to check at 4 years and then replace if needed and continue to check every 2 years. At its 4 year service it was just replaced, I am not sure if it was checked first.

[CitROeNALD]

I think I will get it done next year then as it just went in for it's latest service. Good information, thank you.

The main dealer has never suggested it needs the coolant changing, the service log shows it is being checked every service, so I have always assumed it is still doing it's job well.

But I am beginning to doubt the thoroughness of the outfit.

[PaulC5]

If you want to check if the coolant still prevents freezing, take a bit out and put it in the freezer. Our freezer is set at -18°C so the coolant would not freeze or go slushy at that temperature. This will not check the corrosion inhibitors.