CARS = Complete Auto Repair Service
        Carbon Co. Utah

CARS Complete Auto Repair Service 

(435) 637-5337

660 E. Main Wellington Utah 84542 

Hwy 191 / 6     Next to Post Office

North of Moab   South of Price, Helper, Salt Lake City Utah

Coolant System on your Automobile

     Coolant is the fluid that absorbs heat from the engine and then dissipates it through the radiator. It is also dissipated through the heat exchanger in the passenger compartment when you crank your heat in the winter.

    Coolant, which is commonly called antifreeze, is a mixture of ethylene or propylene glycol and water, usually in a 50/50 ratio.

     Servicing the coolant involves draining and/or flushing your car's cooling system and then replacing the old coolant with fresh coolant.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?     Always check you cars manuel = Yes, Draining out the coolant and refilling the system when it is recommended removes dirt and rust particles that can clog up the cooling system and cause problems in winter and summer.

     Most cars have a plastic coolant recovery tank connected to the radiator by a hose, so there's no need to open the radiator cap itself . The coolant level should be at the tank's MAX or HOT line when the engine is hot, and lower when it's cold.

Why would I want to do this?     Because it is operating in a hot, hostile environment, coolant will break down over time. Most importantly, the coolant's rust inhibitors get used up, leaving the small cooling passages in your engine and radiator vulnerable to corrosion. Even with these rust inhibitors, some corrosion will inevitably take place, contaminating the coolant with debris.

What happens if I don't do this?     If the rust inhibitors stop working, the cooling system will rust from the inside out. The biggest source of rust in a car's cooling system is the engine block.
     In time, these bits of rust will also clog the tiny passages within the radiator and heater, causing your engine to overheat. When an engine overheats, the result is a payment to your mechanic.

Is there any maintenance required between intervals?     Check your coolant level periodically. Your owner's manual will have a recommended interval in which to check the coolant level.
     If you check your coolant level when the engine is cold, the coolant should be at or above the "minimum" or "fill" line on the transparent refill container. If you check your coolant level when the engine is hot, the coolant should be at or just below the "max" line.

      Disappearance of coolant could be caused by either an external or internal leak, the latter being more expensive. Either one should be addressed quickly, since running low or out of coolant can lead to catastrophic engine failure which could mean a new engine.