It is much more important than you may think to have the correct level of coolant in your vehicle as it prevents your car from becoming too hot and consequently from overheating. That’s why every motorist should check from time to time that his coolant level is correct. This shoul become part of every-week car care.

Keep in Mind:

High pressure and high temperature makes it very dangerous to open the radiator when the engine is overheated. So bear in mind that the car must stand for around half an hour in order the temperature can cool down before you even think about looking into your radiator and adding coolant.

Then open a bonnet and carefully investigate your radiator. The radiator top should be free of any debris or dust as they restrict the flow of air and this is one of the most frequent reasons that causes engine overheating. If the top is dirty carefully clean off all the dust and make sure that the air flow is clear.

Do the Following:

* Carefully investigate coolant hoses regarding leaks, tears or damage.

* There is a see-through container in you radiator which contains the coolant. The indicator on the cap will tell you that it is a part of cooling system.

* Pay attention to the coolant level in the container. There are two level markings – “full” and “low”. You should distinguish between them. Coolant level should be between these two marks and not to approach to any of them.

* Add more coolant if its level is below the low mark.

* To do this just pour the liquid on the top of the container. If the reservoir is quite empty you may add some coolant into the radiator too. Don’t forget to read your manufacturer’s guideline as it will provides you with the information regarding the type of coolant you should use. Remember that there exist a lot of different coolant types and it is very important to use a correct one.

* There are cases when the coolant level remains below low mark even after you have added it. This means that there is a leak in the reservoir. You’ll hardly be able to fix it yourself so apply to a professional mechanic’s help as soon as you can.

If the coolant level in the reservoir is OK pay attention to its color. In most cases the liquids are brightly colored - green, red, yellow, blue - and usually thin and transparent. The coolant must be clean and contain no debris. If you see something else in the coolat container, oil for example, this means that you may have an engine defect somewhere. You’ll probably need that will need a professional help. Brown color of your coolant shows that your car needs a radiator flush. Only if you know how to cope with this, do it yourself.

The following guideline will help you to drain the system:

* Open the radiator drain valve and drain out the old coolant liquid into a reservoir or bucket. They should be big enough. When the radiator is empty, close the valve again.

* Remember that coolant is hazardous so don’t pollute the environment by pouring it just somewhere or into the drain.

* The next step is flushing the radiator out to clean the engine. Before refill the system with the new liquid you should make sure that the cooling system is clean. Fill the system up with clean water, replace the cap and run the engine as long as necessary. Then turn off the vehicle – the engine needs to cool down. Drain the system again in the same way, then let it cool down, then redrain once more. Don’t pour all the liquids into the nearest drain, dispose them correctly.

* As we have already mentioned you should know exactly which coolant type is necessary for your car. So check your owner’s manual to add the coolant properly. Remember that water and coolant should be 50 to 50 proportions.

* Then when the coolant is already in your radiator, start the engine and run the system.

* In a week check your coolant level to be sure that the water and the coolant are well mixed.

Roger Levinsen

Technorati tags: Filling Up Coolant, Checking Coolant Level, Coolant Draining, Coolant Refilling