Feb 28, 2018
The cooling system in your car works to cool down the engine, when it heats up the engine must be cooled constantly to avoid any engine damage or overheating. The cooling system is filled with antifreeze, coolant liquid and water which travels around the cooling system to control the temperatures. The coolant system is important to the overall running of your engine and condition of the vehicle.
The cooling system involves various parts of the engine to make it function including the engine, radiator, water pump, cooling fan and a thermostat. How do you spot any issues with your cooling system?
The obvious way to identify any issues with your cooling system is by the coolant warning light that should appear on your dashboard. If the light switches on it’s a sign that your engine is too hot and or else your car needs a top up of coolant, it can also be an indication of a coolant leak. This could be a result of a cracked or broken hose, in this instance, you are best to pull over and wait until the engine cools down. Try topping it up with coolant and then have your car checked as soon as possible, coolant leaks are very common but can cause real damage if it’s not fixed by a professional.
Check your temperature gauge on the dashboard, if the needle is moving upward this would indicate there is an issue with your cooling system. The needle should sit somewhere in the middle and should not move from there if the gauge is moving it’s a coolant issue. The temperature is rising in your car because the coolant cannot pass through the system and therefore cannot regulate the temperature of the engine. Having your car serviced regularly would involve routine checks on your car's coolant system, therefore issues can be detected early on.
When your heater isn’t working it is a sure sign there is a fault with your cooling system, the air in your heater is heated by the coolant and in then heats the interior cabin of the car. You will notice on a cold day when you get into the car and switch on the heat, it will not blow out warm air until the engine has heated up a little. If your engine is leaking coolant the heater will be affected, so have your car checked by a professional who can detect the root of the problem.
If there is a coolant leak you may notice a puddle where you park the car, this is a sure sign that the coolant system is leaking likely to be a cracked hose or a hole in the radiator. If there is no puddle but you are noticing that you are constantly refilling the car with coolant then it is likely a leak in the coolant system. Have your car checked immediately! Engine overheating can cause serious damage to your car.
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