Why should I get a cooling system service?
Question:
Why should I get a cooling system service? I thought it was only necessary if my car is overheating…
Answer:
Great question! We appreciate you trusting us at Accurate Automotive with this question. We pride ourselves in offering honest, quality vehicle repair at a price that’s fair and a part of being honest is educating our customers on how their engine and vehicle systems work.
To people, it may seems that, if your engine is running at the proper temperature then everything must be just fine. But the fact is that engine overheating is the most common cause of mechanical failure and it is something that can be expensive to repair. So how do you get from everything is just fine to suddenly overheating and potential engine damage?
Truth is, it is not a sudden process, but it is an invisible one if you are not keeping your vehicles service schedule. Your engine coolant circulates through your engine where it absorbs heat and then flows through the radiator where it is cooled – and then back to the engine again. If the coolant can flow freely – and there are no leaks – then the coolant can do its job. This is the point where you must look deeper.
The cooling system is a harsh environment: very hot, with several reactive materials like various types of metal, plastics and rubber. Over time the coolant becomes corrosive. Small pieces of metal and other materials flake off and circulate in the coolant. These bits can start to clog up the small passages in the radiator, impeding the coolant flow, leading to overheating. Corrosive coolant can eat away at the system and cause leaks as well.
Now new coolant is full of anti-corrosion additives. These additives neutralize the reactions that lead to corrosion. The additives are eventually used up, leaving the cooling system unprotected.
Therefore, your vehicle manufacturer often gives a recommendation for when your cooling system should be serviced. Your service technician can also test your coolant for freeze point and PH to see if it needs to be replaced (if you’ve added straight water to the system these numbers may be off). You need to get fresh coolant in there to continue to protect against damaging corrosion.
So, if you’ve gone beyond the recommended service interval, take care of this important maintenance service to prevent unnecessary repairs down the road.
We hope this helped answer your question but if not, feel free to give us a call
(480) 890-0409
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441 S Robson #101 Mesa, Arizona 85210
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