To keep your vehicle in working order for a longer period of time, requires some care. A number of parts need regular maintenance in order to function properly. One of these parts is cooling system. In order to keep your vehicle running properly and to extend its life, cooling system plays a vital role. This system consists of a number if of components, such as water pump, radiator, thermostat, pressure cap, hoses, fan, reserve tank, bypass system and heater core. To protect the engine from overheating, damage and breakdowns, it is important that these components function properly. Here are some tips to help you maintain your vehicle’s cooling system.
Routine Checks
Routine checks are very important for your car’s cooling system because they help you spot any problem in different parts of cooling system and also make sure that all components are properly working. Besides routine checks, there are some specialized inspections and tests that you can either do yourself or hire a mechanic to do them for you.
Visual Inspection of Cooling System
You can do it yourself because it is very easy to do. During this inspection, check all hoses, belts and radiator for any leaks and damages. If you notice the engine generates heat faster, it is a clear indication that there must be something wrong with the cooling mechanism. It indicates that your vehicle’s cooling system needs maintenance.
Check Radiator
Check the radiator for corrosion and leaks. Also, check the tubes, head gasket and clogged fins.
If you notice oily deposits inside the radiator’s fill neck, it means that radiator has blown out. There is another test that you can run to check the radiator. It is called radiator pressure cap test. Caps are a very critical part of the cooling system. These radiator caps are prone to wear and fatigue. If they are worn out, it may lead to pressure control. Therefore, it is important to run this test and make sure caps have recommended system pressure level at regular intervals.
Check Thermostat
Thermostat is another very important part of a vehicle’s cooling system. It controls the amount of coolant being released into the engine. If it is not opening and closing properly, it can cause great problems, for example, if coolant is not provided to the engine in sufficient amount it will become too heated. Thermostat is also responsible for poor circulation of coolant which leads to overheating of engine. That’s why, it is important to check thermostat and make sure it opens and closes properly.
Run Pressure Test
Another test that you can run is pressure test. This test is done to check external leaks and damages to any of the components of vehicle’s cooling system, including radiator, pump, engine coolant passages, heater core and heater hoses. If you find any problem with any of these components, replace it.
Engine Cooling Fan Test
The engine cooling fan keeps the engine from overheating. If this fan stops working, the coolant will remain hot and this may cause the engine to overheat. In order to make sure the cooling system is functioning without any glitches, you can conduct engine cooling fan test.
There you have it! These are some tests and inspections that you can use to check your vehicle’s cooling system on a regular basis.
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