Hi guys
I have a Toyota Camry V6 with 161k miles doing prettt good except for some oil burning. I noticed the coolant level is a little low and from past service experience the coolant hasn’t been changed ever. Should I just drain the coolant and refill or do a coolant flush? Toyota dealer suggested me to do a coolant flush for 189 dollars and jiffy lube said it’s 139. Please give me advise on what to do.
thank you
Change it. Yes the antifreeze protection could still be good, but the corrosion inhibitors wear out. Over time, crud also starts to settle out and plug things up. The pH will change and it starts to eat into rubber hoses and gaskets.
Change it. Your manual has the interval. Pay somebody unless you are ok with the recovery and disposal of the fluid. Jiffy lube can do it.
Change the coolant. No need to worry about flushing.
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I would replace it. Cheap insurance.
You can get your own coolant tester for under $15 and if its good then go ahead and just refill it. In my experience coolant typically stays good, I got a 75 firebird that hasn't had its coolant changed in over 35 years and to my surprise the coolant was still good, no, it was actually better than the new coolant I got for it.
