My engine coolent is low what kind should i use to fill it?

[jinx5]

I bout this car used and noticed it had low engine coolant. What kind of coolant do you guys recommend me. Sorry guys this is my first car and don't really know much about cars right now. The owners manual tells me I should put 50% still water and 50% engine coolant? I should read more of it.
It has around 120kms on it.

[jinx5]

i ment 120 000

[aris]

It should be in your manual

[jinx5]

Alright even the brand names?

[jinx5]

So i can go in canadain tire and pick some up?

[OILm.ca]

FL22 probably .. what year is your Car ?
or you can use Amsoil Coolant ..

[skunk2]

While u r at it check the thermostat if there's any
Signs of leak.

[coyote]

Do you have any records of if the coolant was ever flushed in the car? You might want to do that if it hasn't been done. What colour is the fluid, that might help you tell if it was flushed.

[jinx5]

Well i ended up getting this http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/3/AutoFluidsChemicals/AntifreezeCoolants/PRD~0293023P/Prestone%2BAntifreeze%252BCoolant.jsp
Meh i went with my dad and he told me to get this. I think the coolant when I looked at it was green but i only glanced at it in the car.

[Flagrum_3]

Well i ended up getting this http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/3/AutoFluidsChemicals/AntifreezeCoolants/PRD~0293023P/Prestone%2BAntifreeze%252BCoolant.jsp
Meh i went with my dad and he told me to get this. I think the coolant when I looked at it was green but i only glanced at it in the car.

That product 'may' be okay to use, but you must check the cap on your reservoir if it states FL-22 or not!! If it does state FL-22 that will not be sufficient.

I would take Coyote's advice and check records if the coolant has ever been flushed properly.If your not sure whether or not it was ever done, now is the time to flush the system completely or you'll be inviting alot of problems.


_3

[Nick]

premixed? you get more bang for the buck buying the concentrate and mixing it yourself

[jinx5]

well the manial doesn't say what kind of engine oil to put so meh. There is no indecatore stating anything going on so It's probly fine. How do I check the temp? It says something about changing every 120 000k so meh it's at 104 000k.

[jinx5]

sorry i first stated i had 120 000kms but i have around 104 000kms

[sas]

Mainly, coolants are using the ethylene-glycol or propylene-glycol base , and three types of the anticorrosion systems, the IAT, OAT and HOAT.
For Mazda3 is used Ethylene-glycol based coolant. Forbidden additives are alcohol, methanol, borate, and silicate. For these purposes are more appropriate OAT coolants.
If you don’t know the exact type of used coolant then better to replace and flush it because the different types might change the neutral balance of the coolant or coolant may become like a gel.
There is some info about additions.
http://www.geocities.com/dtmcbride/home_garden/auto/antifreeze.html
I used for my old 323 the Valvoline G05 (HOAT group), but it has a bit of silicates.
You can’t be wrong if you could get the F22 Mazda Long Life Coolant. Problem is that
this coolant is incompatible with others. More outstanding example of that incompatibility is the Dex-Cool antifreeze.
As I understand the Prestone antifreeze is the IAT group, it has silicates and phosphates. It’s not so categorically bad. You just must use the good decarbonized water to mix with concentrate and it lasts 2 years or 30kKms.
For comparison, the second OAT group lasts 4-5 years. Many people state that DexCool better to replace since 3 years.

[victor_t]

well the manial doesn't say what kind of engine oil to put so meh. There is no indecatore stating anything going on so It's probly fine. How do I check the temp? It says something about changing every 120 000k so meh it's at 104 000k.

what do you mean manual doesn't say what kind of oil to use?
it is clearly written in my manual what kind of oil to use (5W20)

for the coolant: you should probably flush the system completely and re-fill with new coolant.
if inside your engine bay there is any mention of FL22 coolant then you must keep using the same coolant type, otherwise use anything that is compatible, meaning does not contain silicate, borate, methanol or alcohol.

I just flushed mine and replaced it with Peak extended life which I believe is based on organic acid.

[jinx5]

And how much does that usally cost?

[victor_t]

And how much does that usally cost?

the coolant? they're all around 15 bucks for a gallon of full strength at crappy tire.

you need to remove all the existing coolant which will take a long time, that's the only real annoyance. (waiting for engine to warm up, then cool down, then warm up etc)

[TheMAN]

you do NOT need to spend money on buying antifreeze if the coolant tank is only a bit low from the "full" mark... just top it off with distilled water!

if your car uses FL22 (it will say on the coolant tank), then you must top it off with FL22

as for coolant change, I do not recommend buying generic antifreeze from any store... most generics contains silicates and that's a big no on a japanese car... if you care about your car, spend the extra bucks on the right stuff from the dealer