Skip to main content

COOLING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

Ok before we begin it is important we give you this note/ warning

NEVER OPEN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR OR RADIATOR CAP WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT

The coolant in your vehicle's coolant reservoir contains an antifreeze which performs three vital jobs

i. It prevents the coolant from freezing during cold weather
ii. It raises the boiling temperature of the coolant and hence prevents over heating on hot weathers
iii. It helps fight corrosion

It is important that you the level of coolant periodically to ensure that it is not low( usually the result of leakage) and also the strength and condition of your antifreeze. If the coolant is brown or discolored it mean it is overdue for change, although it could still be green or orange or yellow, there's no way to tell how much corrosion protection is still in the coolant without measuring its "reserve alkalinity." To do this you use chemically-treated test strips that give a good-bad indication by color changes and if your cooling system is low on coolant, use the type already in the system

Most manufacturers recommend a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water for proper functioning of your cooling system but if your aim is to maximize freezing protection a 70/30  mixture of antifreeze and water would do just fine. Up to a 30/70 mixture of antifreeze and water can be used in hot climates to improve cooling efficiency. Never use water or antifreeze alone in your vehicle's cooling system

If you find that your cooling system is dirty use a flush to remove rust and scale. Manufacturers recommended that green coolant should be changed every two to three years or 30,000 miles while orange or yellow coolants( longer lived coolants) should be changed after five years

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOOT BRAKE AND HAND BRAKE

Motorists around the world know  how to use foot brake and hand brake, even non-motorists are aware of their operation but how many are actually aware of the working mechanisms of braking using the pedal and the handbrake? very few, i guess. So without wasting much time let's break down the difference Foot Brake and Handbrake: The Real Difference If you have always been looking for the answer to- “when should I use handbrake and foot brake,” then delve deeper into their mechanisms and find the appropriate answer? 1. Overview Commencing with the foot brake system, it is a pedal connected to vacuum booster, which is used to stop or slow down the vehicle’s motor. This is also known as the system of hydraulic brakes that multiplies the foot-force applied in order to stop a car weighing several tons. Whereas, the handbrake, also known as the parking brake, or emergency brake; is a straight pull handle near the steering column. This can also be a hand-operated lever...

CABIN AIR FILTER

On newer vehicles you are likely to find the cabin air filter, it's job is to clean the air that enters the passenger compartments and HVAC( heating, ventilation and air conditioning) unit In some cars you will find it located under a panel at the base of the windshield while in other cars you will find it behind the glovebox There are two kinds of designs or construction of cabin air filters and it's maintenance depends on the construction your vehicle is using i. Dust only-- should be replaced every 20,000 miles or two years ii. Dust and odor-- should be replaced every 12,000 miles Note that replacements often depends on operating condition

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT

Check Engine Light officially known as the Malfunction Indicator Lamp(MIL) informs you when there's an emission-related problem with your engine control system. Depending on how critical the problem is, your check engine light may stay on continuously or just flash. It will most likely stay so you don't forget it needs checking If no other warning lights are on, and the engine is running normally (no unusual noises, smells, vibrations, etc.), you can assume the fault that is causing the Check Engine Light to come on is probably minor and won't hinder your ability to continue driving. But if other warning lights are on, you should stop your vehicle, come down and investigate the problem OBD II - HOW IT WORKS When the On-board diagnostics(OBD) detects faults that may lead to an increase in emission, the OBD sets a pending code in the vehicle's memory and if the same problem occurs on a second trip, under same condition the OBD system will then set a diagnostic tr...