Cooling System
Cooling System Repairs
We all know how important the cooling system is: coolant/antifreeze circulates around the engine, absorbs heat, and then dissipates it in the radiator. Cooling system failure can cause extensive engine damage. There are a couple of fine points that may be useful to you. One is about minor coolant leaks. It’s tempting to put off…
Read MoreCheck Your Cool Quotient with a Cooling System Quiz
A fairly common household disaster is flooding of the laundry area due to a split hose on a washing machine. Also vulnerable to a similar disaster is your car. A bulging radiator hose, carrying hot water (coolant) under pressure, can rupture. Cooling system neglect is cited as a principal reason for mechanical failure of a…
Read MoreHappy Fall! Time to Think About Your Coolant
It’s the beginning of fall, and time to consider your coolant. This is a good time to think about your engine cooling system. Regular inspections and pressure tests of your cooling system are of utmost importance, as is good maintenance by following the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended coolant change intervals. As time passes, the protective anti-corrosive…
Read MoreAsk The Tech: Water Pump
“My water pump went out and it cost much more to replace than ones I’ve had replaced in the past. My repair shop said it’s because of where it’s located.” Why is that? Some water pumps are driven by the serpentine belt and are bolted on out in the open with the alternator and air…
Read MoreRadiator Fans…
Car owners who are old enough have probably heard the term “fan belt”. Back in the day the radiator fan in your vehicle was turned by a belt driven by the engine. There are still belt driven fans – although most are now driven by the serpentine belt. But most auto owners now have electric…
Read MoreAuto Thermostat Basics…
The thermostat is an essential part of your cooling system. Your vehicle thermostat performs a similar function to the thermostat in your home. At home, you set your thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature range. When your home gets too hot, the air conditioning kicks on and when it gets too cool, the heater turns…
Read MoreWhat’s An Air Blend Box?
You push a few buttons or turn some knobs, and voila, you have warm air blowing on your feet or cool air chilling your face. How does all that happen? Well, it’s all thanks to the air blend box. This box lives behind your dash and delivers just the right temperature of air right where…
Read MoreEver Wonder Where The Toasty Air In Your Car Comes From?
Did you ever wonder where the toasty air in your passenger compartment comes from? Well, as your engine starts to warm up, it also warms the coolant/antifreeze that circulates around the engine and through the radiator. There is also a hose that conveys coolant/antifreeze from the engine to the heater core and another that takes it…
Read MoreDon’t Forget to Check Your Antifreeze
One of the easiest and most important tasks to prepare your vehicle for winter driving is to inspect the level and freshness of your vehicle’s antifreeze. We recommend that drivers check their antifreeze every 12 months or 12,000 miles to help protect the engine from freezing and overheating, as well as from rust and corrosion…
Read MoreAsk the Tech: Why should I get a Cooling System Service?
My engine never overheats. Why should I get a cooling system service? That’s a really good question to ask, because if you don’t have the full answer you may end up in trouble. It would seem that if your engine is running at the proper temperature that everything must be OK. But the fact is…
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