Hi everyone, I realize this is my first post here but I've read all the discussion threads about coolant choices and appropriate coolant maintenance options extensively. This situation is a little different:
I’m visiting my parents who are the original owners of this Outback with only 35,500 miles. I know the discussions in this forum about replacing coolant and choosing the best brands focus on trying select the very BEST maintenance choices for the maximum longevity and health of the vehicle. In this case, the Outback is a secondary car, driven infrequently, and my parents are planning to move and donate the car, possibly within the next year. The car has had periodic maintenance, especially oil changes, but the service schedule has not been followed to the letter. (It also appears highly likely that an unscrupulous dealership service department duped them into unnecessary and expensive work in the past.) At this point the car runs fine, and my parents do not want to put unnecessary money into maintenance of a vehicle they don’t plan to own or drive much longer. The car effectively has low value to them. So here’s my question/issue:
Currently the coolant level in the reservoir is slightly below the “low” level with the car in the garage and not driven for a few days. I have not checked the level after the car had been driven and warmed up. According to the service records, the coolant was drained and refilled (with the addition of a bottle of coolant system conditioner,) in March 2010 at a mileage of 22,770. This was part of the questionable repair performed by the aforementioned unscrupulous dealership, and came only one year and 1,300 miles after the previous coolant services maintenance. The records indicate that the coolant used was Subaru SOA868V9210, which I understand to be the “long life” green version. (The previous coolant services maintenance the year before specified they used SOA868V9270, the “super coolant” blue variety, if they were even honest about what they used.)
The coolant remaining in the reservoir is green and looks reasonably clear. I know it's been 5 years (but only 12,700 miles) since the coolant was changed. If we were planning to keep the car, I’d be looking at a coolant flush and all that great maintenance, but for now:
Thanks very much for your advice, and I apologize for posing a question and describing a situation that I am sure would “upset” any Subaru enthusiast or owner that wants to do the very best for their vehicle at all times.
I’m visiting my parents who are the original owners of this Outback with only 35,500 miles. I know the discussions in this forum about replacing coolant and choosing the best brands focus on trying select the very BEST maintenance choices for the maximum longevity and health of the vehicle. In this case, the Outback is a secondary car, driven infrequently, and my parents are planning to move and donate the car, possibly within the next year. The car has had periodic maintenance, especially oil changes, but the service schedule has not been followed to the letter. (It also appears highly likely that an unscrupulous dealership service department duped them into unnecessary and expensive work in the past.) At this point the car runs fine, and my parents do not want to put unnecessary money into maintenance of a vehicle they don’t plan to own or drive much longer. The car effectively has low value to them. So here’s my question/issue:
Currently the coolant level in the reservoir is slightly below the “low” level with the car in the garage and not driven for a few days. I have not checked the level after the car had been driven and warmed up. According to the service records, the coolant was drained and refilled (with the addition of a bottle of coolant system conditioner,) in March 2010 at a mileage of 22,770. This was part of the questionable repair performed by the aforementioned unscrupulous dealership, and came only one year and 1,300 miles after the previous coolant services maintenance. The records indicate that the coolant used was Subaru SOA868V9210, which I understand to be the “long life” green version. (The previous coolant services maintenance the year before specified they used SOA868V9270, the “super coolant” blue variety, if they were even honest about what they used.)
The coolant remaining in the reservoir is green and looks reasonably clear. I know it's been 5 years (but only 12,700 miles) since the coolant was changed. If we were planning to keep the car, I’d be looking at a coolant flush and all that great maintenance, but for now:
1. Would topping up the coolant be sufficient?
2. If I can get my hands on Peak Global, would that be fine? If not, what other brand/formulation would be sufficient given the circumstances described above? (I do not really want to try to locate and buy the Subaru brand.)
3. Should I fill the reservoir, as the owners manual indicates, to the “FULL” level mark?
4. Also, when I remove the radiator cap, there is no visible coolant showing at the neck or the very short distance before it bends out of sight, but I don’t know if coolant is supposed to be up to the very top of the radiator when it’s cold? Should I be filling up the radiator to the neck as well?
2. If I can get my hands on Peak Global, would that be fine? If not, what other brand/formulation would be sufficient given the circumstances described above? (I do not really want to try to locate and buy the Subaru brand.)
3. Should I fill the reservoir, as the owners manual indicates, to the “FULL” level mark?
4. Also, when I remove the radiator cap, there is no visible coolant showing at the neck or the very short distance before it bends out of sight, but I don’t know if coolant is supposed to be up to the very top of the radiator when it’s cold? Should I be filling up the radiator to the neck as well?
Thanks very much for your advice, and I apologize for posing a question and describing a situation that I am sure would “upset” any Subaru enthusiast or owner that wants to do the very best for their vehicle at all times.