You’ve filled up the gas, the oil was changed, and your car is ready to go.
Not quite — if you don’t have your coolant changed on a regular basis, you could break down just as easily as you would with an empty tank — and do a lot more damage to your car in the process.
“The cooling system in your vehicle is analogous to that of the thermal regulatory system in your body,” said Troy Green, public affairs specialist for AAA Mid-Atlantic headquartered in Wilmington, Del. “The human body functions best when our internal temperature is at, or near, 98.6 degrees. It is the responsibility of the cooling system to keep the engine at a constant temperature in order for a vehicle to perform at an optimal level. When the engine is cold or too hot, however, engine parts begin to break down and the engine becomes less efficient,” he said.
First, a few basics.
Gasoline in your car’s engine is converted into heat.
The car’s cooling system keeps the engine from overheating by transferring the heat to the air outside.
The cooling system also allows the engine to warm up as quickly as possible to minimize the damage cold temperatures can do to the engine’s components.
Consider these points from Jeffrey Boone and Ed Kriston, approved automotive repair specialists out of the Towson office of AAA Mid-Atlantic, to keep your car’s cooling system running well.
» Do not regularly use pure water as coolant, though you will see water used in the radiators of some race cars.
Automotive coolant has additives that prevent rust and corrosion during the normal use cycle. If you are in a rural area and need coolant, though, pure water can be used until coolant can be added.
» Do go to a repair facility to have your coolant checked. A good rule of thumb is to have it checked at the time of an oil change. A trained technician will check the coolant for quantity and condition. Most states also have rigid disposal laws for coolant that the repair shop must follow.
» Do pull over to the side of the road immediately if the car runs hot or makes a gurgling or bubbling sound. Driving one extra mile with a faulty coolant system can cause expensive damage to the engine.
» Do not touch the radiator cap when the car is hot. Hospital emergency rooms routinely treat people who have received third-degree burns on their faces and hands after they opened a radiator cap.
» Do take extra caution when removing even a cool radiator cap. Work slowly and keep your face and hands protected.
