Untimely replacement of antifreeze can cause the same harm as poor quality fuel. Antifreeze is an engine coolant. A boiling engine in a traffic jam and in the heat - just happens due to the lack of refrigerant replacement. You can change the coolant safely at home, the whole process will take 30 minutes. Many drivers are frightened by the trip to the service, the long waiting in line - therefore, the replacement is postponed until the very last moment. This very last moment happens, as a rule, on the roads, at the most inopportune time. How to avoid the development of such situations? Read further in the article.

When should antifreeze be changed?

There are no universal replacement times. There is a standard rule - replacement of antifreeze occurs every 40-50 thousand kilometers. But it is recommended to do this a little earlier.

In addition, the car can be operated in different load modes - therefore, to replace the coolant, it is better to adhere to a mileage of 25-30 thousand kilometers. Visually, the need for replacement is visible in the presence of the following indicators:

• Antifreeze Opel Astra h leaves - after a long parking of the car, oil spots appear under the engine;
• On the left, under the front bumper, smudges of brown liquid appear - Opel Astra H antifreeze flows;
• When opening the tank, the color of the liquid became noticeably more transparent or mushy;
• A very bad signal if there are oil streaks inside the tank. This means that the heat exchanger has leaked inside the car's engine. The engine oil has mixed with the coolant. In this case, immediately take the car to the service for inspection;
• The volume of antifreeze Opel Astra H is on the scale of the initial fill;
• Since the last filling, the mileage has been more than 25 thousand kilometers;
• Engine temperature is in the red zone - engine cooling mode will jam its operation. It is urgent to change the coolant.

Replacement process

The process of replacing the refrigerant in Opel is quite simple. In the Opel Astra J, the replacement of antifreeze is similar to the Opel Astra h, as is the replacement of the antifreeze of the Opel Astra G. In the listed car models, the principle of operation is the same with the replacement of the refrigerant.

• Preparing containers for draining the waste liquid. You can take a simple 5 liter plastic bottle. At the top we make a hole in the shape of a rectangle 5 by 3 cm. Waste fluid will be drained into this hole;
• Stop the engine, it is better to drain the antifreeze when the Opel has been standing for 15-20 minutes;
• We carry out the whole process on a level platform;
• Buy new coolant from trusted suppliers. In no case with hands, where the liquid is on trays under direct exposure to the sun or temperature conditions.

Draining antifreeze

How to drain antifreeze on an Opel Astra J or to drain an Opel Astra H antifreeze - the processes are similar in time and complexity.

• Under the front bumper, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe left headlight, we are looking for a coolant drain cone. We substitute the container and unscrew it;
• A thin trickle of antifreeze will drain slowly. The color is brown or bright pink. Depending on the originally acquired color (indicator - the engine must be cooled with a new fluid);
• Next, pour distilled water into the tank (attention: not from the tap, but purchased distilled water that does not contain chlorine precipitation);
• We carry out flushing 5-6 times. The color should be pale pink (blue, yellow);
• Cleaning is complete. We pour all the waste liquid into a technical drain (not in domestic conditions - the liquid is poisonous).

Pouring new antifreeze

We select the brand of antifreeze in accordance with the type of engine:

• Marking 11: not very high-quality liquid, fill in as a last resort. Suitable for old models of the Soviet car industry or foreign cars;
• G12 marking (includes carbon-silicate) - high-quality coolant, suitable for engines operating at high speeds;
• G13 marking - contain propylene glycol. It does not differ in any way from the previous type, but does not contain poisonous properties.

The color of the antifreeze does not matter. Produced respectively in different combinations. From red and pink to blue and yellow.

The best advice on choosing a coolant is Opel recommendations. We open the Opel operating instructions on the last page - all brands of consumables are given there with a complete list.

How to choose and replace antifreeze Opel astra

Opel Astra models H and J antifreezes. Replacement rules, instructions for draining and filling, as well as useful tips for the Astra cooling system.

Choosing antifreeze for Opel Astra

When choosing a coolant for an Astra, the ideal product is a GM Genuine product. Any other red liquid marked G11 can act as a substitute. It is very important that Opel Astra antifreeze is filled with one kind, for example you cannot add red to green or G11 to G12.

Replacing antifreeze Opel Astra H

According to the rules, the change in antifreeze in Astra is made every 45 thousand km or every 2 years. You don't need special skills and equipment to replace yourself. Any work with coolant can be carried out on a cooled engine. The vehicle must be on a level surface.

1. Open the expansion tank first
2. Then, on the radiator tube of the drain valve, you must put on a hose, insert the end into the drain container and turn the valve.
3. To completely drain the Opel Astra cooling system, you must move the clamp holding the throttle heating pipe and remove the nipple from the seat of the intermediate pipe.
4. Fill until it evaporates from the remote nozzle. Then reinstall it. Then it is necessary for the engine to warm up to operating temperature, and check the level in the expansion tank. If the level is lower than required, top up.

Opel Astra J Replacement of antifreeze

Replacement antifreeze.

Opel correct coolant change !!

How did I change standby)))

Replacing antifreeze Opel astra J

The Opel Astra J coolant must also be changed every 45,000 km or every 2 years.

During the procedure, the car must be on a level surface. The process flow is as follows:

1. First of all, open the cover of the expansion tank.
2. Connect a hose to a drain and place the end in a container to drain.
3. Open the tap.
4. Refill new product until it runs away from the throttle valve, it must be removed beforehand by loosening the clamp.
5. Check the level with a warm engine, top up if necessary.

Why antifreeze is leaving?

Such reasons for Opel astra enough. Coolant may be leaking from a radiator, pump, or cracked hose. Also, a gateway could be the cause. If the leak is small, then this will help remove the special chemical compounds that pour into the Opel Astra expansion tank, and plug small holes. But this is a temporary solution.

In order to avoid the appearance of air congestion in the system during filling of funds, it is necessary to periodically heat the radiator pipes.

If, after a few days after replacing the antifreeze, it has changed color, then it is a fake product and it must be drained immediately.

If the cooling system Opel astra heavily soiled or antifreeze has not been replaced for a long time, it is recommended to rinse it. For this, there are special chemical compounds.

After draining the coolant, the system is filled with flushing composition and is switched on for about 30 minutes at maximum heating. The composition is then drained and the refrigerant discarded.

Replacing the Opel Astra N antifreeze is important for optimal engine performance. In the Astra N cooling system, it is allowed to use only red (dark orange) antifreeze, which, with prolonged use, can turn yellow. The recommended Opel is 1940650 or 09194431.

Replacement frequency and amount of antifreeze Opel Astra N

Opel Astra N maintenance regulations prescribe checking the level and color of the coolant every 15,000 km. Replacement should be done when the liquid has changed a lot, the level and density have changed. Some drivers prefer not to bother with the question of "when to change antifreeze" and replace every 45,000 km. In any case, regardless of mileage, coolant should be changed every 2 years, because after this time, anti-corrosion additives lose their properties.

How much antifreeze to fill

How to change antifreeze Opel Astra N

Replacing antifreeze Astra N may also be needed when repairing an engine, during which the cylinder head or cylinder head gasket, radiator, heat exchanger was changed. Change coolant possible only on a cold engine, at least several hours after the trip.

Based on the maintenance schedule for the Opel Astra H machine, the antifreeze should be replaced if the shade or color of the working fluid changes. At the same time, the frequency of checking the cooling system is once every 15,000 km.

Many car owners go the easy way and change antifreeze every 45,000 km. If we consider the frequency of such work, from the standpoint of the terms of operation, then it is necessary to drain the old and fill in the new coolant once every two years. This is due to the fact that, at the end of this period, the additives in the antifreeze lose their qualities, and the risk of engine overheating increases.

What antifreeze is better and how much to pour into Opel Astra N?

The service life and characteristics of the engine depend on the timeliness of replacing antifreeze. The correct choice of coolant is of no less importance. In Opel Astra H cars, it is allowed to use dark orange or red compounds, which, with prolonged use, can acquire a yellow tint.

The best option is the use of G12 antifreeze designed for Opel cars. Do not fill in coolant containing silicate. It can be recognized by its green-blue tint. This is extremely important, because ignoring this requirement can lead to system failure.

Before replacing antifreeze, it is worth deciding on the required volume of coolant - how much to pour. This parameter depends on the type of motor. For example, engines Z14 XEL and Z14 XEP require 5.6 liters of coolant, for Z16 XEP and Z18 XE - 5.9 liters, for Z17 DTL and Z17 DTH - 6.8 liters, and for Z13 DTH - 7.6 liters l.

Antifreeze for Opel Astra N from General Motors

Replacement process

The reason for replacing antifreeze, with an Opel Astra H, may not only be mileage or the past 2-year period. It is advisable to do such work after repairing the engine, replacing the cylinder head or cylinder head gasket, installing a new heat exchanger or radiator. You can change the coolant only on a cold engine, a few hours after the trip.

In the process of replacing antifreeze, be careful - the working fluid should not get on the timing belts, because it contains glycol. If this happens, the resource of the part is reduced, and the risk of breakage increases during operation.

Draining antifreeze

How to drain antifreeze from Opel Astra H? The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. On an appropriately equipped vehicle, turn off or put the air conditioner in ECO mode.
2. Remove the cap installed on the expansion tank neck. Be careful as there is a risk of burns if the engine is not completely cooled down. For protection, cover the lid with a rag.
3. Lift the machine and place it on stands.
4. Remove the engine crankcase guard.
5. Place a prepared container of suitable volume under the main radiator. It will drain the coolant. To prevent splashing, put a tube on the branch pipe, and lower its other end into a container.
6. Open the cap on the radiator and wait for the antifreeze to drain from the system.
7. Close the valve and lower the machine.

Pouring new antifreeze

Above is an instruction on how to drain antifreeze. After removing the old fluid in the Opel Astra H cooling system, you can proceed to filling it. To do this, do the following:

1. Make sure that all pipes in the cooling path are in good condition, as well as that the fasteners are secure. If during the inspection, defective components were found, replace them and stretch the clamps.
2. Remove the expansion tank cap and begin slowly filling the system with clean, coolant.
3. Pour the working composition until its level in the tank is at the level of the lower branch pipe.
4. Screw on the cap on the expansion tank.
5. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches operating temperature. Increase the RPM to 2500 RPM to start the cooling fan mounted on the radiator.

Run the motor for two minutes to ensure that excess air locks are removed from the cooling system. In this case, the speed of the Opel Astra H engine should be at the level of 2000-2500 rpm. Excess air will escape through the connecting and return pipes of the expansion vessel.

After completing the work, inspect the condition of the system elements for the fact of a leak. After that, turn off the engine and wait until it has completely cooled down. Reinstall the crankcase guard (if installed) and check the level of antifreeze in the system again. If it is below the norm, make an adjustment to the required volume. Finally, put on and tighten the tank cap.

If you follow the above algorithm, replacing antifreeze in an Opel Astra H car takes no more than an hour. Remember that filling with coolant on time will extend the life of the engine and avoid many problems during operation. For best results, use only the manufacturer's recommended antifreeze.

Video: Replacing antifreeze with Opel Astra H

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To operate without increased wear, the engine of the Opel Astra H requires a normal temperature regime. Therefore, it is important to monitor the condition of the coolant and, if necessary, replace it.

Stages of replacing coolant Opel Astra H

Antifreeze in this model is drained through a special drain cock located at the bottom of the radiator. But the drain from the engine block is not provided, so it will be logical to flush. That will completely eliminate the presence of old fluid in the system, and will not worsen the properties of the new antifreeze.

As you know, the GM corporation includes many brands, in this regard, the car was supplied to different markets under different names. Therefore, according to this manual, you can perform replacement on the following models:

• Opel Astra H (Opel Astra H);
• Opel Astra Classic 3 (Opel Astra Classic III);
• Opel Astra Family (Opel Astra Family);
• Chevrolet Astra;
• Chevrolet Vectra;
• Vauxhall Astra H;
• Saturn Astra (Saturn Astra);
• Holden Astra.

As a power plant, both gasoline and diesel engines with different volumes were installed on the car. But the most popular are the z16xer and z18xer gasoline engines, with a volume of 1.6 and 1.8 liters, respectively.

Draining the coolant

To drain the antifreeze from the Opel Astra N, the designers provided for a fairly thoughtful and easy access. In this case, the liquid will not spill over the parts and engine protection, but carefully drain through the dressed hose into the substituted container.

The operation can be performed even in the field, the presence of a hole is not required for this, we just place the machine on a flat surface. We wait until the motor cools down to at least 70 ° C, as recommended by the manufacturer, and proceed:

This is the whole process of draining, everyone can figure it out and do it with their own hands. This method leaves about 5 liters of old fluid. Another liter remaining in the cooling system is recommended to be removed by flushing.

When draining, the valve must be unscrewed not completely, but only a few turns. If you unscrew it more, then the liquid will go not only from the drain hole, but also from under the valve.

Flushing the cooling system

After completely draining, we put everything in its place, close the drain holes. Pour distilled water into the expander. We close the lid, let it warm up to operating temperature and open the thermostat. During warming up, we periodically increase the speed to 4 thousand.

We muffle, wait for cooling, to at least 70 ° C, drain the water. We repeat this procedure 3-4 times, or until the water is clear when draining. After that, the Opel Astra H system is considered flushed from the remnants of the old antifreeze.

Filling without air pockets

When replacing a flushed system, concentrate is usually used as new fluid. This is due to the fact that a non-drained residue of distilled water remains. And when using ready-made antifreeze, it will mix with it, which will worsen its freezing point. And using a concentrate, it can be diluted taking into account this residue.

So, the concentrate is diluted taking into account the remaining water in the system, now we fill it into the expansion tank. Following the instructions in the instructions, you need to fill it just above the KALT COLD level indicated by the arrows on the tank.

We close the tank lid, set the temperature regulator to the HI position, start the engine. We warm up the car to operating temperature with a periodic increase in speed to 4000.

If everything is done correctly, there should be no airlock, and the stove will blow with hot air. You can turn off the engine, after it cools down, it remains only to check the coolant level, if necessary, top up.

Replacement frequency, which antifreeze to fill

The first replacement of antifreeze in this model is made after 5 years of operation. Next, replacements should be made based on the recommendations of the coolant manufacturer. Using products made using modern technologies from well-known brands, this period will also be at least 5 years.

General Motors Dex-Cool Longlife is recommended as antifreeze to be poured in. Which is an original product with all necessary approvals. Articles by which it can be ordered 93170402 (1 liter), 93742646 (2 liters), 93742647 (2 liters).

Its counterparts are Havoline XLC Concentrate and Coolstream Premium, a ready-to-use product. Coolstream is supplied to conveyors for filling new machines assembled in Russia.

The main criterion in choosing a coolant for Astra N is GM Opel approval. If the liquid has it, then it can be used. For example, it will be an excellent analogue for this model.

How much antifreeze is in the cooling system, volume table

Leaks and problems

The cooling system of the Astra ASh car is hermetic, but over time, leaks may occur in various places through which antifreeze leaves. If found, it is worth paying attention to the pipes, joints. There is also a leak where the throttle valve is located.

Some motorists find oil in antifreeze, there can be many reasons for this, up to a punctured gasket. But accurate information can only be obtained from the service, with a detailed study of the problem.

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