Cooling System

Your cooling system is made up of 3 key components.

The first component of your cooling system is the radiator. Checking that it carries enough water and coolant and is unblocked will ensure that it is able to cope with the demands of your vehicle. Giving it a good flush each year will assist in removing the buildup of deposits that cause blockages keeping them to an absolute minimum and will also help prevent rust/corrosion from forming which can cause blockages and brittle areas that can form leaks under pressure.

The next major component is the fan and airflow. Ensure that your air intake into your engine bay is not covered over or blocked. Perhaps you have run over a plastic bag that is stuck and blocking the airflow to your radiator. Also check that your fans cut in when required. If you have just gone for a drive of 10 mins or more then your vehicle should have reached a temperature where cooling is needed, particularly in the tropics and warmer climates. Your fans should be running, especially if you are not moving.

The third part covers the internal components, like the water pump, thermostat and the heater. This can be tricky as parts are not easily assessable. However, if your heater hoses or connectors fail, it will generally be immediately noticeable as your vehicle will loose all of its coolant and temperatures will spike very quickly, especially when sitting in traffic.

Your water pump is perhaps the most important part of your cooling system as it is the heart that keeps the coolant running through the engine removing the build up of heat. It usually runs off a pulley at the front of the engine and will generally make a lot of noise if the bearing is worn. Other signs can be poor air conditioning performance, your engine is consistently running hot, coolant puddling on the ground over night or play in the belt.

Thermostats can stick without actually becoming fully non-functional. If you notice that your vehicle starts to heat up then runs very hot before returning to normal running temperature on an intermittent basis then it is very likely you may have a thermostat issue. It is best to replace this as soon as possible as it is generally a simple job with a low price tag. We believe that it is not worth the risk to ruin an engine worth thousands of dollars for the cost of a $15 thermostat.

What coolant should you use?

Coolant is an important part of your cooling system. Always ensure you have the correct ratio of water to coolant and try not to mix coolant types. Antifreeze/anti-boil or water are not ideal coolants when used alone, but when mixed in their specific ratio the boil/freeze point is ideal for all but the most extreme climates. Coolant is generally a corrosion preventative as well as part of your vehicle’s temperature control. Different coloured coolants are for different metal types. If you don’t know what type of coolant you should put in your vehicle make sure you consult your user manual. Mixing two different types of coolant can create major problems for your engine and cooling system. They can have all kinds of reactions including gumming up your radiator causing major blockages and can even damage your engine. So for the sake of a few dollars we recommend that you follow your user guide and purchase the correct coolant type for your vehicle and do not mix it with any other type. If you are not sure of what your current coolant is, then it is always best to completely flush the radiator and cooling system (including heater hoses etc.) before using the new one to avoid any complications and costly replacements.

Please note that if you experience any irregular temperature activity with your cooling system or radiator it is best to get it looked at and repaired as soon as possible.