Cooling System Basics

Winter is almost over, and pretty soon we’re going to need to get our cars and trucks ready for the spring and summer ahead. One of the most important things to pay attention to is the car’s cooling system. The cooling system does not mean the air conditioner, it is referring to the engine cooling system and the components that keep the engine running at normal operating temperatures.

The major components of a car’s cooling system have not changed greatly in the past years. There is a radiator that cools the antifreeze/coolant, the water pump which circulates the coolant through the engine and a thermostat which closes the flow of coolant in order to allow it to reach its peak temperature before releasing it back to the radiator.

Belts and radiator hoses are also parts of the cooling system, as well as heater hoses and a heater core. The heater core is generally located under the dash on the vehicle’s passenger side and acts as a miniature radiator itself. As hot coolant enters the core it flows through its coils producing heat, the blower motor blows across the heated core and provides heat from the vents.

Before you attempt to do any cooling system maintenance yourself there are a couple of steps you should take in order to ensure your safety and that of your car. First of all, never ever remove the radiator cap on a hot radiator. The coolant in the radiator is under pressure when hot and can cause severe burns if it sprays on you. Second, check to see what type of coolant your car uses. Used to be if it was green it was okay. Now many manufacturers use a special formula coolant and mixing it with plain antifreeze can damage your vehicle.

Case in point, GM has for the last several years used an orange colored coolant in many of its cars. When mixed with the green antifreeze it forms a substance that looks like mud, stopping up thermostats, radiators and heater cores. If caught in time it can generally be fixed by flushing the cooling system several times. If your not sure what type of coolant your car needs check your owner’s manual or contact your local dealer.

Another important thing to remember that if you need to add coolant or water to your car’s cooling system and the engine is warm keep the engine running while pouring it in. We all know what happens when a hot dish of glass is added to cold water; it cracks. The same thing can happen to your engine block.

Also, when adding coolant or water, remember to use a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water. This is because straight antifreeze will actually freeze at a higher temp than antifreeze mixed with water.

Now, before spring check your cooling system well. Make sure that the radiator hoses are pliable and in good shape. Check the belts, if they appear frayed or cracked have them replaced. Next, remove the radiator cap and look inside the radiator, if it looks rusted or has a lot of build-ups have it flushed. If your thermostat has not been replaced in 3 years or 36,000 miles do so now. If you drive an older car of a truck/SUV to check your fan clutch and make sure that it does not feel loose. If your vehicle is equipped with electric fans make sure that they are working properly.

I hope that this indicates to you how important the cooling system is to the continued operation of your car.