1. Many serious engine malfunctions are related to malfunctions in the cooling system. If the car is equipped with an automatic transmission, then its operation and service life are also directly related to the operation of the cooling system.
2. Checking the cooling system should be carried out with a cold engine, so it is better to do it before the first trip of the day or no earlier than three hours after turning off the engine.
3. Slowly, being careful in case the engine is not completely cool, remove the expansion tank cap. Rinse thoroughly inside and out with clean water. Check the cover gasket. A low coolant level may be the result of the cap being screwed on incorrectly.
4. Also flush the filler neck. The presence of traces of corrosion in the filler neck means that the fluid should be replaced. The fluid inside the radiator should be relatively clean and clear. If it is brownish, empty the system and refill it with new fluid
5. Carefully check the radiator hoses, as well as the heater hoses, which have a smaller diameter. Check the entire length of the cooling system hoses, replacing any cracked, swollen or worn hose. Cracks are easier to find if the hose is squeezed by hand. Pay special attention to the clamps holding the hoses to the cooling system components. These clamps can cut or puncture hoses, causing fluid to leak.
6. Make sure all hose connections are secure. Fluid leaks usually show up as white or rusty deposits in the area of the seal failure. If your car uses wire-type clamps, then it may make sense to replace them with screw-type clamps.
7. Use compressed air or a soft brush to clean the front of the radiator (as well as the air conditioning condenser, where present). Remove all insects, leaves and other foreign objects that have fallen on the radiator fins. Be very careful not to damage the ribs or cut your fingers on them.
8. If the fluid level is constantly dropping, and you have not found any leaks, you should pressure check the radiator cap and the entire cooling system.
A noticeable coolant leak and/or presence of oil in the coolant, as well as white clouds in the exhaust gases, indicate a defect in the cylinder head gasket.
Checking the frost resistance of the coolant
Warning: Do not allow antifreeze to come into contact with your skin or painted vehicle surfaces. In case of contact, rinse immediately with plenty of water. Antifreeze is extremely toxic and deadly if ingested. Do not leave antifreeze in an open container or spilled on the floor; its sweet smell can easily attract children or pets. Check local regulations for the disposal of used antifreeze. In many areas there are special centers for its acceptance.
Before the start of the winter season, it is imperative to check the concentration of antifreeze in the coolant, especially if clean water was poured into the system during operation.
You will need a special hydrometer with antifreeze frost resistance graduations.
Examination
1. Slightly warm up the engine so that the top hose of a radiator warms up. When measuring the concentration of antifreeze, the temperature of the liquid should be about +20°C. When the engine is hot, open the expansion tank cap carefully. There is a risk of burns! It is necessary to put a rag on the cork. Open the plug only at a liquid temperature not exceeding + 90°C.
2. Carefully turn off a stopper of a broad tank.
3. Draw liquid with the hydrometer bulb.
4. The concentration of antifreeze is usually sufficient to protect the system down to -25°C, in extremely cold climates down to -35°C.
Fluid removal
1. To remove coolant, place a drip tray under the radiator and remove the radiator drain plug.
2. It is impossible to completely remove the old fluid from the system (without complete engine disassembly), therefore, all volumes given in the Specifications are conditional. In practice, you will be able to fill the system with about 2/3 of the prescribed amount of fluid.
3. After filling the system with fresh antifreeze, place a label on the expansion tank indicating the concentration, brand of antifreeze and date of replacement. Any subsequent replenishment of the system (before scheduled replacement) should only be carried out with the specified liquid.
Adding antifreeze
Refer to materials Specifications.
If it is necessary to protect the engine down to -25°C, the concentration of antifreeze in the coolant should be 40%. If protection down to -35°C is required, the antifreeze concentration should be 50%.
Warning: If a higher degree of frost protection is required, the antifreeze concentration level can be increased to 60%. This concentration will provide protection down to -40°C.
If the concentration rises to a higher level, the protection of the engine starts to decrease and, in addition, the heat dissipation properties of the coolant deteriorate.
Air locks
If the engine overheats after changing the fluid, the cause is most likely due to air locks in the system. These plugs do not allow fluid to circulate throughout the system. They appear as a result of too hasty refueling of the system.
If you think there is an air lock in the system, first of all try to compress all visible hoses one by one. You can immediately tell if the hose is filled with liquid or air. As a rule, all air pockets disappear after the first (after fluid change) engine start.
With the engine running warm, turn on the heater and its fan. Warm air must be supplied to the cabin in sufficient quantities. If the supply air temperature is low, an air lock may be the cause.
The consequences of air locks in the system can be very serious (not just a decrease in the efficiency of the heater). A large plug can stop the circulation of fluid inside the engine. In order to make sure that there are no plugs inside the engine, feel the upper radiator hose with the engine running - it should be hot. If the hose is cold, this indicates an air lock in the engine or a faulty thermostat.
If you could not get rid of air locks, let the engine cool down completely, remove the expansion tank cap, try to compress the system hoses. If that still doesn't work, drain all the coolant into a clean container and refill the system with the same coolant following the instructions above.
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