Anti Freeze useful life

[RobertN]

I am due to change filters and fluids on my Kubota B8200. I just hit 1000 hours. I only get about 50 hours a year, but like to change engine oil yearly regardless.

I have had the tractor about 8 years. It was made about 1987. I have always kept the anti-freeze topped up, but have never changed it. It looks clean and green. How often should the stuff be changed?

I have usually only changed it in cars ect when doing water pump work or something that requires draining it anyways. Or, if it looks icky in general.

 

[JJT]

I change the antifreeze in both of my diesels every 2 years. I understand the additive package does wear out, yet it may still look good, and a hydrometer test may say it's fine. It costs less than $10/tractor, it's cheap insurance.

Both my cars have lifetime fluid, I'll be changing when I chenge hoses, (not lifetime).

 

[Ed_L295DT]

Change the antifreeze. The rust inhibitors disipate allowing cavitation to do a job to cylinder walls (on the water side). The only problem is disposing of the used AF.

 

[rswyan]

Both posters are correct - the only thing that really goes is the rust inhibitor - something easily solved by adding an aftermarket water pump lube & rust inhibitor - which you should be able to find at Autozone, NAPA, etc.

If the exisiting fluid is dirty I believe that many service facilities now offer filtering with a "flush and fill"

 

[RalphVa]

I bought a VW 5 years old with original "lifetime" antifreeze. Manual says it's for the life of the car. I changed it anyway. Was completely clear.

Used to chang the antifreeze on the other 2 cars every year. Decided to go every other year. Well, a 3rd year slipped by. Bought antifreeze for both: $23 for the Toyota and $25 for the Benz/gallon. Toyota antifreeze at 3 years was like new. Haven't done the Benz yet. Figure I'll let them all go 5 years now.

About the only place to dispose of antifreeze around here is the dump. There are some commercial places that recycle it, but for themselves. Machines are available for this that evaporate it and condense it. Then only need to add additive to the ethylene glycol.

A safer antifreeze to use is propylene glycol, but it is hard to find.

I catch any that I drain from the main drain. Any further flushes are sent to a drain that does to an underground sink hole in the ground where small amounts of antifreeze ought to biodegrade before it reaches the water table.

Ralph