Benefits of Preventative Maintenance of Your Vehicle’s Cooling System
No driver wants to intentionally cause serious damage to their car engine. Extreme hot weather conditions can stress out the cooling system of an import car and cause it to overheat. Overheating is hazardous to the vitality of the engine, but preventable with twice-yearly preventative maintenance checks.
If you suspect your car is experiencing a cooling system malfunction and you’re seeing smoke billowing from the engine or leaking coolant, do not drive it. Low levels of coolant can cause serious damage to the car engine, which ultimately translates into very costly repair bills for you as an import car owner.
Even though the summer heat is notorious for causing engine troubles, expect that engine cooling system problems can happen year-round, even during the mildest weather and the coldest winter months. The most common issues are: coolant and radiator leaks, blocked thermostats, cracked radiator and coolant hoses, broken heater cores, damaged head gaskets and bad water pumps.
Triangle Imports encourage import car owners to get their cooling system preventative maintenance done twice a year or at least yearly. The best time to schedule maintenance for your car is in early summer or late spring and then again in early winter or late fall. By scheduling your cooling system’s maintenance earlier, you’ll save yourself time, money and frustration.
How a Car’s Cooling System Works
The engine of a car runs hot no matter what’s happening with outside weather conditions. A properly functioning cooling system is designed to keep the car engine at a constant temperature, optimally between 195-220 degrees Fahrenheit. Major engine problems can arise for import car owners if the car engine runs too hot for too long. Driving or idling while overheated will cause major engine damage.
The basic cooling system circulates engine coolant through the engine block and cylinder head. Coolant is a specific mix of water, antifreeze, corrosion inhibitors and lubricants based on your car’s make and model. The radiator cools the coolant, which in turn cools the engine, but a cracked radiator can fail to lower the coolant temperature enough to safely cool the engine during travel.
Parts of a Car Cooling System
- Radiator
- Water pump
- Freeze Plugs
- Gaskets
- Heater Core
- Thermostat
- Hoses
- Fan Clutch
- Electric Cooling Fan
It is important to hire properly trained and certified import auto technicians in Raleigh to perform the cooling system diagnostics on your import car along with any necessary repairs. If you notice a cooling system leak, you’ll need to get it repaired immediately before you continue to driving.
Signs and Symptoms that Your Car is Overheating
- Engine starts smoking
- Steam rises from under the car hood
- Coolant is splattered over engine or underneath car
- Coolant reservoir appears empty
- Temperature gauge moves into danger zone (overheating)
- Strong smells or odors (ethylene glycol)
- Liquid flushing sounds in dashboard area
- No heat in car or when idling at highest heat setting
Schedule Your Import Cooling System Service and Repair in Raleigh
Don’t wait till the summer heat or winter conditions start to stress your cooling system and cause severe engine damage. Our technician team is ready to help you maintain the integrity of your import car’s cooling system.
When performing preventative maintenance checks, our technicians will locate the origin of the leaks, check coolant levels, inspect radiator and coolant hose, and assess the condition of components.
Call (919) 828-7900 or complete the online contact form to schedule your import car’s cooling system service and repair with one of our certified technicians.
