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.

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