Tips to Catch Coolant Issues In Your Car Or Heavy-Duty Engine

Coolant plays an important part in keeping your vehicle running smoothly. Your coolant system protects against scale deposits and seize-ups from freezing or overheating by transferring heat from the engine into the atmosphere. Without proper maintenance, serious issues in the system can happen, including warped cylinder heads as well as damage to the radiator, valves, camshafts and pistons. But these problems can be avoided with regular inspections and maintenance and with these tips, you can catch car or heavy-duty engine’s coolant issues before they become major problems.

Schedule Regular Maintenance and Inspections

Despite the misconception that coolant systems don’t require servicing, it’s important to conduct routine maintenance to make sure everything is working properly. In certain circumstances, coolant can react with rust particles and become highly corrosive leading to leaks, cracks and other serious issues. That’s why experts recommend checking your coolant system and radiator annually for proper coolant level, freeze point and possible contaminants.

Inspect Your Engine’s Coolant

While regular maintenance is essential for your coolant system’s upkeep, keeping an eye on the condition of your coolant and knowing the signs that it needs to be replaced can help you catch problems before they turn into major issues. Particles in your coolant, a thin or watery appearance or visible sludge are all signs of problems. For a more in-depth analysis of the quality of your coolant, a refractometer can tell you your coolant’s glycol levels and freeze point to help you better determine whether it needs to be replaced.

Flush Your Coolant System

Just like oil, coolant degrades over time, and as it ages your coolant can pick up debris and deposits that can weaken its ability to properly absorb heat. But unlike oil which can easily be drained and replaced, coolant can remain trapped in the engine as well as hoses and other lines. Draining old coolant and flushing the system with water helps remove debris to keep things clean and running smoothly.

Using 50/50 or Concentrated Coolant

Because tap water contains minerals that can increase the chance of chemical reactions that can damage the system, make sure to only mix coolant with distilled water. At STARFIRE, we offer both pre-diluted coolant and concentrate to help keep your coolant system protected for the life of the vehicle with proper maintenance.

At STARFIRE we’re committed to providing you with high-quality products that meet or exceed OEM standards at a cost that’s best for your budget. With optional bulk purchasing, you can maximize efficiency while increasing the longevity of your vehicles and equipment. Check out our catalog or give us a call today at 888-258-8723 to find out more about our full line of products. Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn! Also take a look at our Starfire merchandise for T-shirts, koozies, bottle openers, glasses, water bottles, hats, hoodies and more.

5 Keys to Brake Maintenance

Making sure that your vehicle’s braking system is well-maintained is essential to safe driving year-round, but especially during colder months. Here are five things to look for to help you stay safe on the roads.

Flush and Change Your Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is a key component of keeping your brakes working as it helps transfer pressure from the brake pedal through the brake lines to your vehicle’s rotors and brake pads. However, brake fluid also attracts moisture, which can lead to rust and corrosion to your brake system. Checking and replacing your brake fluid every 25,000 miles helps keep your brakes in good working order.

Examine Your Brake Pads and Rotors

Because your brake pads and rotors are the point of contact that helps your vehicle stop, they can wear easily and as a result they require regular maintenance. If you have to press harder on your brake pedal to stop, or notice a squeaking noise or the smell of burning odor, it’s a sign that it’s past time to replace your pads and rotors. Removing the tire gives you quick access to them to check them for wear and if you notice damage, replace them immediately.

Bleed Your Brake Lines

Excess air can get trapped and build up in your brake lines reducing their effectiveness. Bleeding your brake lines helps remove this excess air and can be easily done by adjusting the bleeder valve while pressing down on the brake pedal. Experts recommend bleeding your brake lines every two to three years.

Make Necessary Replacements and Upgrades

Replacing and upgrading your brake system with longer lasting, high-quality parts can help improve overall performance. Upgrading from non-metallic brake pads to semi-metallic ceramic pads can help provide greater stopping power and last much longer than non-metallic pads so you won’t have to replace them as often.

Take Care of Your Brakes

The easiest way to keep your brakes well maintained is by taking care of them. Avoiding heavy braking can help prevent deterioration and significantly increase the life of brake pads and other parts. Additionally, remembering to stick to a regular maintenance schedule for your brakes helps keep everything in working order while reducing the risk of brake failure and keeping you safe. STARFIRE’s quick-drying Tec-A-Brake brake and parts cleaner helps remove build up from brake parts without leaving messy residue so you can enjoy improved performance, while our DOT 3 and DOT 4 Brake fluid give optimum performance, longer service and prevent corrosion in brake systems. Both our DOT 3 and DOT 4 comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 516.116.

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