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How much coolant do I need for my car?
My car is overdue for a coolant system flush and fill. My mechanic wants to charge $120 for the service plus $10 per liter of coolant. How much coolant does my car need when it's empty?
Melanie Krieps Mergen · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
While no one enjoys spending money on car maintenance, a coolant system flush is vital to the longevity of your car.
How much coolant you’ll need will depend on what type of vehicle you drive, but many cars can hold up to five liters of coolant.
The coolant system flush will:
- Remove rust and buildup from your coolant system.
- Stop the old antifreeze from becoming acidic: Acidic antifreeze can cause a lot of damage by breaking down rubber hoses, water pumps, and different components of the engine.
If you need to top off your car’s engine coolant, just follow these steps:
- Park your car on a flat surface and let it sit for an hour or two, or until the engine is cool.
- Open the hood and find the coolant reservoir. It will usually be a clear plastic container with a colorful liquid inside.
- There should be a MIN to MAX scale on the side of the coolant reservoir. If the coolant has fallen below the MIN line, you’ll need to add coolant.
- If you need to, mix your coolant with water as directed by the packaging.
- Take a look at the radiator. If you can’t see any coolant inside and the cap is easy to access, add more coolant until you can see it at the bottom of the neck.
- Then, fill the coolant reservoir to the MAX line.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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