Keeping Your Cool (Coolant System)
May 7, 2023
No matter what the weather is like outside, your internal combustion engine expects to keep its cool all the time, even when it's really cold. That's because engines create the power that moves you to your destination by a series of tiny explosions of a fuel and air mixture. In turn, that generates a lot of heat in a small space.
Your vehicle has a complete cooling system with a lot of different parts that work together to keep the temperature at a point where the metal engine parts won't heat up enough to warp. Its lifeblood is coolant, a liquid that circulates through the engine (and, in most vehicles, the transmission, too) through a series of hoses and tubes.
In order to get rid of the coolant's heat, your vehicle has a part you probably recognize: the radiator. It does what its name proclaims: radiates heat. The radiator has a series of thin metal fins that coolant goes through, and when outside air passes over them, the heat is dissipated from the radiator into the air.
The water pump (which is technically a coolant pump) is what propels the coolant where it needs to go.
When there's a problem in the coolant system, it may because it's leaking somewhere. A few things to look out for are the temperature gauge heading into the hot, or red, zone, fluid leaks under your vehicle, or the sweet smell of coolant under your vehicle after it's been parked.
If your vehicle has any of those signs, bring it in so we can check things out. A technician will inspect the water pump and hoses for any signs of leaks. They'll also look for leaks or holes in the radiator core or cores.
One other potential trouble spot is the radiator cap that can sometimes fail to keep the required pressure in the radiator. Once the problems are fixed, they'll add the correct coolant and you'll be on your way. We want you to always keep your cool.
Commerce Auto Repair
9575 Commerce Rd.
Commerce, Michigan 48382
248.363.3749
Need Service?
More articles from Commerce Auto Repair
Your Vehicle's Other Power Plant (Alternator Replacement)
November 17, 2024
Your vehicle's engine is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a power plant. But it has another power source that is vital as well: the alternator. The alternator is what puts out the electricity that powers such things as your lights, power windows, sound system, and na... More
Breathe Easier (Cabin Air Filter)
November 10, 2024
When you get in your vehicle, how does it smell? If it's not so nice, it may be time to have your cabin air filter changed. It's not the same one that filters out the air used in the engine. The cabin air filter screens out dust and other particulates from the outside air so when it enters the c... More
Timing is Everything (Timing Cover Replacement)
November 3, 2024
Theres an important part in your vehicle that shields your timing belt, timing chain or cam belt from the debris and gunk that can be kicked up from the road. Its called the timing cover. Its important because the timing belt or chain is what coordinates parts of your engine called the camshaft... More