Cooling Systems: Prepping For Those Summer Trips: Avoiding Cooling System Problems for Hassle Free J
Summer is in full swing and those long awaited vacations are right around the corner. A cooling system in need of attention can ruin that first summer trip. A hot July afternoon under a cloudless sky is not the time to spend several hours on the roadside with steam pouring from under the hood of an overheated car.
Spending some time on a weekend, using these guidelines, inspecting the cooling system may help avoid the driver and the car from blowing off some steam.
Starting the Inspection
The inspection should be performed on a cold engine when no pressure is on the system and there's no chance of getting scalded or burned.
With the radiator cap removed, check the sealing areas for worn or missing seals. The cap should be tested to make sure it is able to hold its rated pressure. Weak radiator caps will allow coolant to boil at a much lower temperature than it would normally.
The coolant (anti-freeze) needs to be tested for proper strength and make sure no contaminants are in the system. The proper strength is a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water. It can be checked with an inexpensive tester available anywhere auto parts are sold. A proper mixture will usually give a reading around minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If it has been more than two years or 24,000 miles since the coolant was last changed, then now is the time to get it done. Most service facilities offer a power flush service which will not only replace the coolant but will also back flush the system to remove rust and scale build-up.
All the hoses—heater hoses, radiator hoses and by-pass hoses—need a thorough inspection and a good squeeze. Hoses should feel firm yet pliable. Any crunching felt with the hand is a sure indication a hose is deteriorating on the inside. If a hose is very soft or mushy, very hard, or covered with oil and grease, it is time for a replacement. The entire length of each hose should be inspected, paying close attention to any place it may have been rubbing against something and worn thin. Connection points and all clamps should be clean, tight, and show no signs of leakage or swelling.
Drive Belts and Fans
Fan belts and serpentine belts need a close and thorough inspection. They should be inspected for the following:
Fraying- small pieces of belt material beginning to tear away
Cracking- splitting across the face of a belt's drive surface
Glazing- glossy or shiny spots on a belt's drive surface
Any belt even remotely questionable should be replaced.
If the car or truck is equipped with a regular or clutch type fan, they should be inspected for loose, cracked, bent, or missing blades. The front portion of the hub on fan clutches should be clean and dry, showing no signs of leakage. Spinning a clutch type fan by hand should be met with some resistance within the fluid coupling. There should be no movement found when grabbing the fan blade at the tip and rocking it back and forth. Movement here may indicate a bad fan clutch or failing water pump bearing.
Thermostats are very difficult to check for proper operation on most cars. Replacing them every two years when the cooling system gets flushed is worth the peace of mind on a long trip.
For those cars and trucks with electric cooling fans, the engine should be started and allowed to reach normal operating temperature. The cooling fan should cycle on and off consistently at the same points on the vehicles temperature gauge.
The Shakedown Cruise
A nice Sunday drive can be the final road test before a trip. Pulling several long grades on the drive and watching how the temperature gauge reacts will indicate whether adequate airflow is being drawn through the radiator. This is also a good time to listen for the fan clutch to engage on those vehicles so equipped. Hearing a noticeable roaring sound when the clutch engages and the fan starts pulling more air through the radiator will indicate all is well.
A final safety measure of having a repair shop pressure test the whole system and run a special block test that checks for any combustion leaks—leaking head gaskets or cracked heads—that may be getting into the cooling system is worth the small investment of time and money.
A properly maintained cooling system will help keep that next trip fun and trouble free.
Be sure to also have a car fire extinguisher in case of emergency.
