Jaak:"With regard to coolant as I said before it is insignificant in costs in comparison to brakes. Therefore, I have always followed the 30,000 mile rule. It is worth the small amount of money for the following reasons:
Coolant can deteriorate over time and should be tested to see if it’s still good, as it can be hard to tell just by appearances. Even if the coolant reservoir shows sufficient coolant level and testing shows the cooling and antifreeze protection are still adequate, a coolant drain and antifreeze flush may be needed.
The coolant can become more acidic over time and lose its rust-inhibiting properties, causing corrosion. Corrosion can damage the radiator, water pump, thermostat, radiator cap, hoses and other parts of the cooling system, as well as to the vehicle heater system. And that can cause a car engine to overheat.
Thus, the coolant in any vehicle with more than about 50,000 miles should be tested periodically. That’s to look for signs of rust, leaks and to make sure it has sufficient cooling and overheating protection, even if the cooling system seems to be working properly and the reservoir is full. The cooling system can be checked with test strips that measure acidity, and with a hydrometer that measures freezing and boiling protection.
If the corrosion inhibitors have deteriorated, the antifreeze coolant should be changed. The cooling system might also need flushing to remove contaminants no matter what the maintenance schedule calls for or how many miles are on the odometer."
The Manufacturers guide for my Chevy Malibu recommends coolant change at 100,000 mile intervals. Long ago, coolant was crappier than today. In your 1950s car, it would barely last 30,000 miles. For the last 30 years, manufacturers are using ‘long life’ coolant.
Having put over 500,000 miles on GM cars since 1990, cooling system problems aren’t. Neither are oil changes at 8000 miles (20% indicated oil life left). Nor changing spark plugs at 100K miles or more.
GM had planned alternator failure at 70K miles throughout the 70s and 80s into the 90s. Went through many of them pre 2007. Never more than 73K miles. Died right on schedule. then they got smart. Last two Malibus have no alternator problems. (2007 with 220,000 miles traded in and now 2016 with 148,000 miles). Did have to replace brakes at 135,000 on first one - and had rotors machined. New car at 148,000 still has ‘half the brake pad’ left.
Mufflers? back in the 1960s, they’d last 18 months. Now? Have not replaced a muffler on a car in last 20 years.
Back in 2005, did have to replace muffler, exhaust pipes on 15 year old Honda Accord with 135,00 miles on it. Drove it to 175K and traded it for new Prius. Still in great mechanical shape but 17 years old. Let someone else keep it running for more years.
What can you say? Some folks are obsessed with outdated early ‘fluid’ changes.
I’m not likely to drive a GM car far past 200,000 miles either. things start to fail. Everything from power windows to more suspension parts to who knows what.
Comparing my ‘dealer recommended’ service vs the actual manufacturer’s recommended service intervals, it seems most dealers are practicing ‘wallet cleaning’ - yours.
t.