16/08/2016
Its nearly summer and its time to check your coolant levels on your car.
The radiator in your vehicle cools your engine and needs water and coolant (antifreeze) to function. Keep the following points in mind as you check the level of the liquid in your cooling system and add more, if necessary:
1, Rather than open the cap on the radiator, just check to see whether the liquid reaches the “Full” line on the side of the coolant reservoir.
It’s part of the coolant recovery system. If the liquid doesn’t reach the “Full” line, come and see Daking Automotive North Parramatta for a free check.
Note that some coolant recovery systems are pressurized and have a radiator pressure cap instead of a normal cap. Some older vehicles have no coolant reservoir, so to check and add coolant, you have to open the cap on the radiator.
2, Coolant is usually red, green, blue, or yellow. If it looks colourless, looks rusty, or has things floating around in it, come and see Daking Automotive North Parramatta to flush your cooling system and add new coolant.
3, If the coolant has a sludgy, oily surface, immediately visit Daking Automotive North Parramatta to check for internal head gasket leakage. We use special equipment for performing this check.
4, While you’re looking around with your cooling system, feel the radiator hoses, too. They’re the big hoses that go into the top and come out of the bottom of the radiator. If they’re leaking, cracked, bulgy, or squishy, come see Daking Automotive North Parramatta immediately.
Or if you prefer, book your car into Daking Automotive North Parramatta. We can perform a full safety check on your fluid levels and perform any necessary fluid and hose changes.
Note:
Always be sure you are using the correct coolant fluid. Using the wrong fluid can severely damage the car. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle's specifications.
TIP:
Only in an emergency should you add only water to the coolant system. Most modern engines have aluminium cylinder heads, which require the protective anticorrosive properties of antifreeze. A 50/50 mix of liquid or coolant is usually sufficient. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle's specifications.
Warning:
Never add coolant to a hot engine! If you need to add more liquid, wait until the engine has cooled down to avoid the possibility of being burned or cracking your engine block. Don’t open the caps on either of these systems when the engine is hot; if you do, hot coolant may be ejected. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle's specifications.