Essential Cooling System Maintenance

By circulating coolant through the engine, a vehicle can control how hot the engine becomes. The coolant transfers heat and can therefore help the engine cool down or heat up.

Here are some signs your engine may be running at a lower-than-optimal temperature:

• The temperature gauge is reading very low.
• Only cool air is coming out of the heater.
• The fuel economy has dropped.

An engine running cold results in a thicker oil circulating through it. This can lead to any number of problems, including low fuel efficiency, increased wear on the engine, and oil contamination.

These symptoms can point to an engine that’s becoming too hot:

• The temperature gauge is reading very high.
• The temperature warning light is on.
• The engine is making thumping or ticking sounds.
• Coolant has leaked onto the ground.
• The hood is extremely hot.

If you notice any of these symptoms, turn your engine off immediately and let it cool down before investigating the issue. Driving with an overheated engine can cause serious and potentially permanent damage. If the damage is beyond repair, you’ll have to get your engine replaced, which can cost upwards of $4,000.

Regular maintenance for your cooling system can help prevent these problems.

Do this seasonally to catch problems before they become too expensive.

1. Let your car’s engine completely cool.
2. Look for the coolant reservoir in the engine bay. It’s a transparent plastic tank with a screw-on cap, near the radiator.
3. Remove the cap and inspect the coolant’s colour. If your coolant looks milky or has debris floating in it, prepare for a coolant flush. If not, go to the next step.
4. On the sides of the tank, you’ll see two markers for minimum and maximum levels. If your coolant falls below the minimum, top it up with the same coolant. Mixing coolants can cause gelling, which will harm your engine.

If you find yourself topping up your coolant often, you may have a leak.

If your dashboard’s temperature gauge shows the engine is overheating, you likely have a coolant issue.

Check your coolant levels and peek under your vehicle: a small pool of coolant collecting on the driveway can indicate a leak. Locate the leak in the system and repair it or take the car to a garage.

Hoses linking your reservoir and radiator may exhibit wear, such as cracking. Replace the hose or take your vehicle to a mechanic at the first sign of trouble.

This procedure is for advanced DIYers only, because it’s much more complex than changing oil.

1. Find out where to dispose of your old coolant before you begin. Do not flush it down the toilet or dump it in the sewer system. Your municipality can give you instructions, or you may be able to recycle it where you purchased it.
2. Collect your supplies:
   • coolant
   • funnel
   • strainer pan
   • gloves
   • eye protection
   • clothing protection
3. Ensure the engine is cool before beginning, or you can suffer serious burns.
4. Find the drain plug under the radiator, place your pan there, and then open the plug to let the coolant out.
5. If you want to flush the system, place a clean pan under the drain plug and pour clean water into the reservoir.
6. Close the drain plug.
7. Fill the coolant reservoir with coolant to the maximum line. Do not pass this line, even if you have a few drops left.
8. You may need to bleed your coolant system to remove any air. Your owner’s manual can give you further information.

For more automotive maintenance tips, check out our blog.