Keeping an Eye on Engine Coolant

By Levi Quinn

Although the world of modern car design is ever-changing and growing, one of the kinks yet to be solved is that combustion gas-powered engines still produce an awful lot of heat. Ideally, what the engine produces is turned into kinetic energy which propels the car. In actuality, almost 70% of the energy produced by a gasoline combustion engine becomes heat.

Heat and mechanics do not go together, and as a result, all cars are built with a cooling system. The way this works depends on your engine and car type, but essentially the heat is converted by a cooling system, the result is then dispersed harmlessly away from the engine and into the atmosphere. Without a coolant system, your car will rapidly overheat and problems – problems that are exceedingly costly to fix – will occur.

It is therefore imperative to regularly check your engine coolant levels. The coolant required by a car depends on the manufacturer, make and model; check the owner handbook for full details of which brand and type of coolant you need to use.

To check your coolant level, you will need to locate the radiator of your car. Often this is found under the bonnet, but for mid and rear engine cars, you may need a little mechanical assistance. Next to the radiator is an opaque or coloured tank; this is your coolant tank. You can sure you have the right item, as the coolant tank will have markings on the side indicating the safety of the level of the coolant.

It is simply then a matter of comparing the water mark inside the coolant tank – which you will be able to see without opening it – against the levels at the side. If you have enough coolant inside and the water level is at a safe marker on the tank, the job is done and you're safe to keep driving; simply make a mental note to check regularly. If, however, the water level is noticeably too low, you're going to need to top it up.

Coolant liquid is 50% coolant and 50% water. You can either buy a pure form of coolant from any auto store and dilute it yourself, or you can buy pre-mixed water and coolant forms which you can just pour directly in. The decision is yours, but if you are inexperienced or unsure, it is strongly recommended that you go for the pre-mixed version. The price difference of a couple of dollars is absolutely worth it.

On the tank itself, you will find a cap which serves as the entrance to the tank. This will either be a screw cap, or will need popping off with a screwdriver or similar tool. Then, simply top the tank up until the water level reaches a marker on the side of the tank that is deemed safe. Screw the cap back on, and look forward to miles of safe driving.

If you do spill any coolant, clean it up immediately, particularly if you have pets. Animals love the sweet taste of coolant, but it is incredibly toxic, so be careful. That aside, with a healthy coolant tank, you have one less issue to worry about.

About The Author

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Learn to Easily Drain a Radiator

By Joe Kent

Draining a radiator can a pretty simple task and shouldn’t take up a significant amount of time. But draining the radiator can be risky for both the environment and people around you if it is not done properly. The first step is to park the vehicle on level ground to prevent the coolant and antifreeze from spilling or going into nearby gutters, in gardens, or anywhere that people or animals could come into contact with it. Although to some animals these fluids may be sweet, they are extremely harmful.

Before draining the fluid in the radiator, you’ll want to let the engine cool down first - an important step that Auto Body Louisville says is often forgotten! Leave the car turned off for several hours to help ensure the engine compartment isn’t hot. One reason for this is that when the engine and radiator is hot, the pressure inside goes up and opening the cap could lead to severe injury for you or for those around you.

The next step is to detach the battery before draining the radiator. This will ensure that the fan in the front of the radiator doesn’t suddenly turn on while you have your hands around the radiator and will help prevent any injury that could occur. Albuquerque used cars dealers also suggests that you’ll want to prepare a plastic container before hand that the coolant could drain into. Make sure it is a sturdy container that can safely and securely store the harmful fluid, recommends Body Shop Chicago. You may consider placing a blanket or tarp over the engine to prevent any coolant from spraying on to other engine components.

After these precautions are taken, you may then open the radiator cap which is located at the top portion of the radiator. Land Rover Service Aurora says will help reduce the pressure in the radiator and help the fluid flow out when it’s drained from the bottom of the radiator. Then, remove the plug from the bottom of the radiator and empty fluids into the container.

Do not move the container until all fluid appears to have been emptied from the container warns Newark Dodge dealers. Using a hose, you may want to flush the radiator out with water to remove and other debris that may be present within the radiator. Once it has drained again completely, place the plug back into the bottom of the radiator and fill the radiator with coolant or anti-free from the top based on the manufacturer-recommended amount. After the radiator is filled, place the cap back on, connect the battery, and then check for any leaks. After that, the last step is to take the container of radiator fluid to your nearest recycling facility for proper disposal.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joe Kent is a writer for TK Carsites, an automotive website design and marketing firm in Orange, CA, that specializes in working with car dealers nationwide.