The Cooling System Written by Kevin Schappell Continued from page 1 The above information is directly from Auto Insight program which you can buy online from AutoEducation.com. Common Problems: Let's look at common problems cars have with cooling system. ·Broken hose. Hoses wear out and can leak. Once coolant has left system it can no longer cool engine and it overheats. ·Broken fan belt. The water pump is driven by engine through a belt. If belt breaks water pump can not turn and coolant will not be circulated through engine. This will also lead to engine overheating. ·Faulty radiator cap. The radiator cap is designed to hold a certain pressure in coolant system. Most caps hold 8 - 12 PSI. This pressure raises point in which coolant will boil and maintains a stable system. If your cap does not hold pressure, then car could overheat on hot days since system never becomes pressurized. ·Water pump failure. Most commonly you will hear a screeching noise and will be able to see coolant leaking from front of pump or under car. Early signs are small spots of coolant under car after being parked overnight and a strong coolant odor while driving. ·Head gasket... have large amounts of white smoke flowing out of your exhaust? Could be a head gasket. The head gasket seals cylinder head to engine block and also seals coolant passages. When this gasket fails coolant can enter cylinder and it will be turned to vapor as engine fires. Head gaskets most often fail after engine has experienced an overheating situation. When super hot, cylinder head can warp and allow gasket to fail. Preventive Maintenance: ·Check all belts and hoses regularly. (at oil change is a good time) ·Look out for coolant leaks underneath car, they could be signs of trouble to come. ·Change your coolant every 2 - 3 years depending on manufactorers recommendations. ·Inspect your radiator cap for deterioration of rubber seal. Replace if you think it is worn. $5 - $10 is cheap insurance. ·Have your coolant system flushed every 5 years. It gets all corrosion which has built up out of system. What to discuss with your mechanic: ·Let your mechanic know when your overheating problems occur. Overheating when idling points to a different problem than overheating at highway speeds. ·Ask your mechanic if it's worth changing timing belt or chain while he is replacing your water pump. Many times timing belt turns water pump so it has to be removed anyway to access water pump. WARNING: Never open your radiator when engine is hot. The pressure in system can cause hot coolant to splash out and burn you. Kevin Schappell maintains http://www.carbuyersclub.com where he gives advice on buying, selling, insurance, and financing. A mechanical engineer and car guy, Kevin has decided to spend his online time helping others learn about automobiles. To learn more about how your car works, Kevin has createdhttp://www.mycarwizard.com Oil / Lubricants Written by Kevin Schappell Continued from page 1 Engines need oil that is thin enough for cold starts, and thick enough when engine is hot. Since oil gets thinner when heated, and thicker when cooled, most of us use what are called multi-grade, or multi-viscosity oils. These oils meet SAE specifications for low temperature requirements of a light oil and high temperature requirements of a heavy oil. You will hear them referred to as multi-viscosity, all-season and all-weather oils. An example is a 10W-30, which is commonly found in stores. When choosing oil, always follow manufacturer's recommendation. Wondering how you can save money and protect your vehicle at same time? Consider switching to synthetic oil and changing your oil at greater intervals. Kevin Schappell maintains http://www.carbuyersclub.com where he gives advice on buying, selling, insurance, and financing. A mechanical engineer and car guy, Kevin has decided to spend his online time helping others learn about automobiles. To learn more about how your car works, Kevin has createdhttp://www.mycarwizard.com     <Back to Page 1   ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005 Terms of Use