CRS Automotive

CRS Automotive | Hamilton & Cambridge, ON Auto Repair

  • Car Sales
    • Premium pre-owned vehicles Cambridge, ON
  • Vehicle Service
    • A/C and Heating
    • Brakes Services
    • Fleet Services
    • Oil Changes
    • Suspension Services
    • Tire Services
  • Get Approved
  • Specials
  • Appointments
  • Blog
  • Contact us
    • About us
    • Google reviews

How to Keep Car Cooling System Healthy

April 24, 2017 By CRS Automotive

No, we are not talking about the Air Conditioning System.

It isn’t about keeping your person cool. It’s about keeping your engine cool.

Well, keeping it cool is maybe a simplistic way to say it, as the engine never really gets cool while working. But it should at least be kept from overheating. It toils at insanely high temperatures and needs an external source of cooling to keep it running.

Car coolant temperature gauge

Wait, how come that antifreeze prevents the engine from overheating? Antifreeze, the crucial ingredient of coolant (the other ingredient is water, mixed at exactly 50/50 rate), also protects the engine from freezing when it is cold outside. It lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point of water. In other words, it optimizes the temperature.

So, today we give you all the basics you need to know about the cooling system.

When to change the coolant?

The owner’s manual has all the vital information – when to change it and which type to choose. Typically, cars will need a new coolant every 50.000 kilometers, but some newer cars can roll nearly 200.000 kilometers without changing it because they use the so-called Long-Life Coolant. But don’t run to an auto shop and buy this one straight away. It was designed for aluminum radiators, and not the copper or brass ones.

You will notice the full and low marks on your coolant reservoir. If the coolant level goes past the low mark, there’s gotta be a leak of some kind. Add some more coolant first to keep the engine running smoothly.

Of course, one of these days you will find yourself in the wilderness, with no spare coolant. The only thing you can do is pour some water into the system. It will cool the engine to a certain point and help you get back to safety. But it won’t do you good in the long run.

So, visit a certified technician as soon as possible to check on the system, because leaks are abnormal behavior. Ideally, you should never get low on coolant.

Your owner’s manual recommends you when to change your coolant in ideal circumstances. However, leaks and breaks happen frequently. That’s why we at CRS Automotive always recommend our clients to check their coolant every 100.000km or 4 years, just to make sure the engine doesn’t get in danger because of such a simple problem.

Signs you need to replace the coolant

  • The most obvious sign of the engine overheating is the temperature dashboard light. This either means that the engine is low on coolant, or that the fluid got so contaminated that it can’t function anymore.
  • The heating inside the cabin doesn’t work properly. The cooling system is responsible for redirecting the hot temperature from under the hood into the cabin. The coolant absorbs the hotness from the engine, getting really hot itself and pumping into the heater. The fan blows into it, bringing warm air into the cabin. If you aren’t feeling enough heat, maybe you’re running low on coolant. Or the coolant is so contaminated with particles of the rust and dirt that they blocked the system.
  • Something smells sweetish, but you don’t want to eat it. It’s your coolant giving away the signs that it needs some refilling. There’s bound to be a leak somewhere in the system. Before identifying the leak, if you’re on the road, refill with some more coolant or water, as we’ve told you already.
  • Coolants come in bright and distinctive colors for a reason. You should interpret color change as a sign of malfunction. Luckily, this is an inspection that can easily be done and you can rely pretty much on your naked eye. Open the radiator cap and see what’s beneath it or on its backside. If there is a muddy, yucky substance accumulated on the surface, it’s time to change. Pump out some fluid with a big syringe or turkey baster and check out the color. If it isn’t limpid and clear, you know what needs to be done.

How to choose the best coolant?

They come in different colors. Orange or red or pinkish, green, golden yellow. There are organic and inorganic ones, with or without silicates.

But don’t rely on your own instincts. Check the owner’s manual and see which one suits your car type best.

Types of coolant services

You will stumble upon loads of DIY (Do It Yourself) articles and tutorials on the Internet about replacing the coolant on your own. According to Ahmad Liaqat, head of CRS Automotive, this is not recommendable.

“We strongly advise you against it, as failing to do all the steps properly may lead to the engine overheating and possible damage that could drain a serious amount of money from your credit card,” says Ahmad.

There are three basic types of coolant services.

  • The drain and fill option. The technician will unscrew the drain plug, drain the old coolant, flush the entire system (as it needs to get rid of all the contaminants that are all over the place), and pour the new coolant into the reservoir.
  • The vacuum service, which sucks out all the coolant and then refills the system.
  • Cooling system flush, which forces the old coolant out with pressure, and lets the new coolant in.

Technicians also have a few tricks to better protect the system and make the new coolant last longer. There are treatments that clean the system before the flush, and conditioners that go in after to help protect the system.

Want to be reminded when it is time for your coolant inspection or any other maintenance? Many awesome rewards and discounts for those of you who download the My Auto Shop app now on Google Play or Apple Store!

Related posts:

How to Tell Your Car Needs Alignment (Infographic)
What a Full-Service Vehicle Repair Shop Should Offer - Part 1
What Is the Best Wax For Your Car?
How much should I budget for car maintenance? (updated)

Filed Under: Advice, Auto Repair, Car Apps, Car Maintenance, Cooling System, My Auto Shop Tagged With: Apps, Auto Repair, Car Engine, Car Maintenance, Cooling System, Driving Tips

Search

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Get Your Appointment Contact us

Subscribe

Recent Posts

  • Check your car AC: Is your AC ready for summer? (updated)
  • 4 Reasons People Change Wheel Rims on Their Cars (Infographic) (updated)
  • Ice Safety Guide (updated)
  • Car Depreciation: What Are the Risks? (updated)
  • 10 mistakes to avoid when purchasing a used car

Categories

  • Advice
    • Car Kits
    • Driving Tips
    • Safety Tips
  • Auto Repair
    • Car Battery
    • Cooling System
    • Dashboard Lights
    • My Auto Shop
    • Tires
    • Wheels
  • Car Dealership
    • Cambridge, ON Used Car Dealerships Archives
    • Car Brands
    • Car Buying
    • Car Makers
    • Car Models
    • Electric Cars
    • Total Cost of Ownership
  • Car Maintenance
    • Spring Car Care
    • Summer Car Care
    • Winter Car Care
  • CRS Automotive
    • Trusted Mechanic Cambridge, ON
    • Trusted Mechanic Hamilton
  • Ontario, CA
    • Cambridge, ON
    • Carbon Tax
    • Hamilton
  • People in the Automotive Industry Archives
    • Bertha Benz
    • Charlotte Bridgwood
    • Danica Patrick
    • Denise McCluggage
    • Elon Musk
    • Florence Lawrence
    • Jeremy Clarkson
    • Karl Benz
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Linda Hasenfratz
    • Mary Barra
    • Michael Schumacher
    • Niki Lauda
    • Trista Schieffer
  • Smart Cars
    • Car Apps
    • Connected Vehicles
    • Internet of Things
    • Smart Cities
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017

Working Hours

Hamilton

Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sat: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sun: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Cambridge, ON Vehicle Sales

Mon - Fri: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sun: Closed

Search Inventory

Search Inventory Search Inventory
Year:
   
Make:
   
Model:
   
Body Style:
+
 -

Find Us

Hamilton

999 King Street East,
Hamilton, ON L8M 1C6

(905) 544-8335

service@crsautomotive.com

Cambridge, ON

75 Water Street South,
Cambridge, ON, N1R 3C9

(905) 469-8335

sales@crsautomotive.com

Why Choose Us?

Open 7 Days a Week. Open Late.

Free Shuttle Service

24 Months / 40 K Warranty

Towing Service Available

Complete Auto Repair Service

Advanced Diagnostic Equipment

Auto service and maintenance Hamilton

CRS Automotive Stoney Creek car sale logo

Copyright © 2005-2019 CRS Automotive. Site Map
Powered by KEY27 Marketing Oakville

  • Home
  • Premium pre-owned vehicles Cambridge, ON
  • Vehicle Service
  • Get Approved
  • Specials
  • Appointments
  • Blog
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • About us
    • Google reviews