Cooling System Flush

How Do I Know if I need a Cooling System Flush and Fill?

Engine coolant or antifreeze is an important fluid. Its primary job is to help transfer heat. The coolant absorbs the heat from your engine – and is then cooled in the radiator.

Also know that the engine coolant is used to provide heat for the passenger compartment. The water pump circulates engine coolant through your car’s heater. The blower motor pushes cold outside air over the heater to create heat (and provide temperature control) for the passenger compartment.

Engine coolant or antifreeze is also designed to handle higher engine temperatures without your car’s engine boiling over. Under pressure (created by the radiator cap), the correct engine coolant can increase the boiling point of your cooling system to 260*F or higher.

Coolant or antifreeze also contains cooling system additives like lubricants and rust inhibitors. These additives help to keep moving parts of your cooling system, like the water pump, lubricated. The rust inhibitors help prevent the buildup of internal corrosion.

Internal corrosion in your car’s cooling system reduces the efficiency of heat transfer. That’s because the corrosion builds up and smaller passages in the radiator and heater become clogged. The reduced efficiency means your radiator will not be able to cools as well as it should. It also means that your car heater may not provide the heating you need.

Flushing your cooling system removes any contamination. Replacing engine coolant helps assures your cooling system will not boil over – but also replenishes the additives like lubricants and rust inhibitors to keep your cooling system corrosion free.

Get more information about proper cooling system maintenance and how to avoid costly repairs when your engine overheats!