I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __coolant system
My car is just a couple of months shy of 11 years old, and has done around 41k miles. Currently doing about 3k per year. I’m planning some preventative maintenance over the winter, and this would include changing the hoses and the coolant expansion tank.
While changing the hoses and tank, should I also change the water pump and any other associated parts? I won’t be doing the work myself but getting my local garage to do it. They aren’t Mazda specialists, so I had planned to acquire the parts I need before handing the car over for the work to be carried out.
Seriously don’t bother. It’s not going to explode in the UK. If you lived in a desert for the whole life of the car 1 in 5,000 might go…
EDIT: If you are doing it because you are getting one of the posh metal ones that look really cool, then great But seriously if it’s for preventative maintenance it’s just not worth it.
I’d like a metal one, but fear that would be the start of a slippery slope where I’d feel the rest of the engine bay had to look as good as the tank.
The existing tank is a bit dingy looking, and I thought it would be worth changing when I did the hoses (which feel a bit stiff), but I’ll ponder your advice. I don’t want to throw you much cash at the car (my wife would not be sympathetic), so may just clean the outside of the tank rather than replace.
The fracture point (for those - mostly American - cars which have suffered it) seems to be at the neck of the tank, so it’s worth paying careful attention to that area.
MIne is one of the early MK3’s being 15 years old in November.
Was about the same age and similar mileage to yours when I got it.
Personally, I wouldn’t worry about it.
Parts will cost upwards of £130, plus the new antifreeze at about £40.
Plus labour.
I could think of a better way to spend £400.
Maybe, if all that bothers you is the coolant tank, siphon off the antifreeze in the tank, swap it your self, and then either top up with fresh antifreeze or put your old stuff back in.
I did mine without losing more than the few drops still wetting the inside of the old plastic tank. However I was expecting the subsequent annual service to also include a FL22 replacement.
See how here:
I had my coolant changed 2 years ago and changed the thermostat last year. I lost very little when changing the stat, coolant was drained, filtered and returned to the system. Water pump hasn’t been changed neither the hoses, the latter still look ok to me after inspection.
So as a minimum I’d change the coolant and flush and do a stat change too because that could fail soon after.
And following RichardFX excellent write up I bagged a nearly new coolant tank off a member’s advert and fitted it just in case mine failed, that was earlier this year.
I changed my coolant tank when I bought the Sport Black last year it’s only done 40,000 but the tank was very yellow , so I changed it for an OEM one for peace of mind . The temp gauge has such a big flat spot by the time it shows overheating its usually to late .
Just been having a look at the Davefab website - lots of really nice stuff, and the expansion tank looks very good indeed.
Before retirement I could have bought things like this and had them delivered to the office in order to avoid scrutiny. Harder to explain away packages delivered to home in full view of the missus.
But seriously if it’s for preventative maintenance it’s just not worth it.
