need to change coolant

[AlbionTurbo]

without wanting to sound silly...How do I change the cars coolant?
The coolant in header tank is a horrible brown rusty colour and having only had the car a short time I don't know when it was last changed.
I am no mechanic, So even something like this seems a bit daunting to me. Is it something I can do easily myself? Or should I just take it to a professional to get it done?

If it is a simple enough job, could someone just let me know what I need to do...

Cheers!

[Bigfoot]

Simple enough job, bottom rad hose to get rid of most of the water, you can unbolt the drainage bolt from OS part of engine. Think its a 11mm bolt by the belt. Might be worth flushing it through with a hose, would remove the two hoses going into the heater matrix as pressure could make it split and leak into the car.

[James5]

Dude if you want to pop down to me I will show you how and we can do it at mine :-)
I am only in southwater about 30mins from Croydon :agree:

[LiamR]

Dude if you want to pop down to me I will show you how and we can do it at mine :-)
I am only in southwater about 30mins from Croydon :agree:

That there is what the RTOC is all about. Cracking offer James :agree:

[R5MJH]

you wont find anyone better to help than james i can assure ya:agree:

[Mr Raider]

Would leave the 11mm drainage bolt on the block alone as could well snap off, undo bottom rad hose and blow through expansion tank to clear all old coolant out. It will probably need a good flush out so would fill just with tap water and pop a dishwasher tablet in and run it up until hot and foaming. Flush it out again a couple of times with clean tap water then finally get all that out of the system and re-fill with genuine Renault type D green coolant pre-mixed, £14 delivered from ebay, job done! ;)

[AlbionTurbo]

Dude if you want to pop down to me I will show you how and we can do it at mine :-)
I am only in southwater about 30mins from Croydon :agree:

Wow! Thanks for all the replys everyone! I would def be up for driving over to you James5 if you would be happy to take the time to help me. Like I said-I'm no mechanic, but am quite practical and eager to learn-it's the fear of the unknown holding me back. Lol. Thanks very much for the offer, I will send you a message 2mo morning mate. Cheers!

[Mr Raider]

Practical and eager to learn is a headstart already, bit of common sense and thinking before you dive in & you'll be fine. ;)

[Trevhib]

I used to attach a hosepipe to various outlets and flush it back and forth until it was clear, then drain enough water to allow room for the coolant, then let it idle and mix.

[AlbionTurbo]

Thanks for the advice/help everyone. :agree:

[Trevhib]

Let us know how you get on :agree:

[AlbionTurbo]

Let us know how you get on :agree:

Had someone do it for me in the end!:)
Main reason being I am so short of time at the moment. Have to say the car is running much cooler now and seems to be running better in general.:agree:

[Trevhib]

Happy days :)

[Cr23g]

usually when the coolant is that discoloured and filthy i do the usual flushing etc then give it a week and then drain it out again. maybe me just being a bit anal though :)

[Mr Raider]

Dont blame you, coolant in my 11 turbo was like that, changed it and within about a month went brown and rusty so next time was flushed even more times and run up with a dish washer tablet in header tank and its been a fresh blue colour for 12-18 months now. :)