This summer, play it cool behind the wheel.

 

Summer’s here, and with it, warmer temperatures,

vacations and longer trips.

If your vehicle’s cooling system isn’t up to par, things

could go from fun-in-the-sun to stranded-in-the-sun.

The truth is: cooling system failure is a major cause of

vehicle breakdowns.

 

The best way to make sure your summer plans stay on

track is to pay attention to your vehicle’s cooling

system now.

You’ll avoid a lot of aggravation, and possibly an

unnecessarily expensive vehicle repair.

 

The cooling system’s sole function is to prevent the

engine from overheating by removing heat from the motor.

 

The combustion process generates a large amount of heat.

Coolant temperature can hover around 200 degrees and the

engine block temperature near the exhaust manifold can

exceed 900 degrees. That heat has to go somewhere, or

engine components are going to start failing. It’s the

cooling system’s function is to remove that heat.

 

Your cooling system works through heat transfer – it

takes the heat from the engine in its fluid and

transfers it to the radiator, which then sends it to the

air.

The liquid in your cooling system, also called

antifreeze or coolant, is actually a 50/50 mixture of

water and ethylene glycol.

Why not just use water? water and ethylene glycol has a

higher boiling point than water by itself and inhibits

corrosion.

 

water and ethylene glycol is circulated by the coolant

pump through a series of passages in the engine. As the

water and ethylene glycol passes by the engine, the

engine heat is transferred to the water and ethylene

glycol. The water and ethylene glycol leaves the engine

through a rubber hose and goes to the radiator. As the

water and ethylene glycol flows through the radiator,

air passing over the radiator’s metal fins takes the

heat from the water and ethylene glycol and passes it on

to the surrounding environment. Air passes over the

radiator continuously because the car is moving and

because the fan is also moving air. The water and

ethylene glycol, now cooled, returns to the engine via

another rubber hose and the process begin again.

 Generally a belt or electric motor is responsible for

driving the fan and water pump. The radiator cap

maintains pressure on the cooling system and acts as a

safety release valve should the coolant pressure rise

too high.

 

The thermostat regulates engine temperature, either

accelerating the time for the engine to warm up.

Once the engine reaches operating temperature, the

thermostat opens up completely and allows the bulk of

coolant to move to the radiator and the cooling process

begin again.

 

If the cooling system is deprived of regular

maintenance, it’s not a question of whether it will

fail, but rather when it will fail.

 

water and ethylene glycol – It needs to be changed

regularly. Check your vehicle owner’s manual for the

recommended replacement interval. If it isn’t replaced

regularly, it loses its effectiveness to prevent

corrosion in the cooling system – a problem explained

below – and it also loses its freeze-protection

abilities. The coolant level also should to be checked

periodically. If your coolant level gets too low, your

engine will overheat.

 

The radiator can corrode internally if coolant, with

its corrosion inhibitors, isn’t used or changed on a

regular basis. When the radiator corrodes, it becomes

restrictive, preventing the effective circulation of

coolant. You should have the radiator and cooling system

flushed periodically to remove any debris internally or

externally.

 

Belts & Hoses are rubber, which wears and degrades over

time and with use. Replace them when your manufacturer’s

recommend.

Have them examined for signs of cracks in the belt or

soft or bulging spots in the hoses. If they fail, your

cooling system stops working.

 

Coolant pump – On some vehicles, the pump is driven by

the timing belt. Since a timing belt needs to be

replaced at certain intervals, it makes sense to replace

the coolant pump at the same time, and most technicians

will recommend this. If your coolant pump fails, the

engine will overheat.

 

Make sure that the radiator cap is screwed on tightly.

Look for any sign of leaks around it. Tell your

technician to perform a pressure test on the radiator

cap to ensure it’s functioning properly when he or she

performs a pressure test on the entire cooling system.

Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot.

 

Be on the lookout for signs of cooling system problems,

like:

1. The vehicle temperature gauge rising near the danger

zone

2. Coolant leaks, steam or hissing sounds under the hood

3. The distinct smell of coolant or an engine that’s

running hot

 

Performing the maintenance your cooling system requires

can prevent cooling system and engine failure down the

road.