The oil in your car’s engine can build up due to neglect and infrequent oil changes. Sludge is a nasty contaminant that can destroy an engine if not attended to, but timely oil changes are a surefire way to prevent sludge build-up. It’s best to check your owner’s manual for exact timing, but generally you should change the oil before 5,000 miles or within a year. Your engine’s cooling system is also not immune to sludge buildup. Coolant circulates in and around the engine and radiator to keep everything cool, collecting rust, corrosion and combustion byproducts.
Even though some coolants have a ‘long life’ badge on the bottle, heat cycling will eventually destroy the fluid. Like engine oil, it must be drained and refilled every now and then. If you never change your coolant, it will turn to sludge with an ugly, cloudy brown hue, which is nothing but bad news for your car’s engine.
Lubrication is one of the most important tasks of the coolant for the cooling system, and this is done using a mixture of ethylene or propylene glycol and some additives. Over time, the additives will break down and eventually turn into a slimy, muddy mess due to corrosion or oil contamination. Combined with neglect and a lack of periodic coolant changes, sludge will start to clog the radiator, and that’s when the real problems start.
Regularly changing the coolant helps prevent the formation of radiator sludge, but how often should you change it? Older cars may need to have their coolant changed every 60,000 miles or two years, while newer vehicles and SUVs may need to have their coolant changed every 100,000 miles or five years. Again, check your owner’s manual to be doubly sure.
Sludge causes overheating and that is not good
Sludge is inevitable if you own an older or neglected car. Additionally, radiator sludge can indicate deeper problems with the engine, so take note if the coolant turns brown before the recommended flush intervals. Fortunately, to prevent sludge formation, we don’t have to spend extra money on additives or magic fluids. Timely coolant replacement will keep everything nice and well lubricated, but which coolant you use is just as important as replacing it every 60,000 miles.
Using the right coolant prevents sludge
On the other hand, older or vintage models can experience premature wear of engine seals and gaskets if the radiator is filled with coolants using organic or hybrid organic acid. Additionally, mixing different types of coolant can do more harm than good, causing the broken down additives to cause more sludge in the radiator, reservoir and coolant hoses. However, there are times when using the right coolant can wreak havoc on your engine, as with the orange GM Dex-Cool coolant that failed prematurely for several drivers and turned into a sticky, sticky mess.
As usual, your vehicle’s owner’s manual contains everything you need to know about when to flush the coolant, what type of coolant is best for the engine, and other important details. Because radiator fluid comes in as many colors as the rainbow, stick to the colors described in the owner’s manual and note whether your vehicle requires inorganic, organic, or hybrid organic coolant. Keep in mind that an opened bottle of coolant will last about three to five years, but it is better to opt for fresh coolant. You probably won’t replace it more than once or twice every 100,000 miles anyway.
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