You see the warning light on your dash. Then steam wafting up from under the hood. Then you’re on the side of the road, wondering what went wrong. The likely answer? Your cooling system’s shot.
Your cooling system doesn’t ask for much—just a little routine care to keep your engine running safely all year round. In this blog post, we’ll reveal why maintenance is crucial and what mechanics look for during a cooling system check on your vehicle.
When automotive technicians mention “a cooling system,” they aren’t referring to the air conditioner.
Your vehicle’s cooling system moves heat to and from the engine, keeping it running between 75 ˚C and 105 ˚C. Without it, your engine could soar to an astounding 2204 °C—no typo here! Your a/c uses refrigerant, not coolant to work.
If your A/C isn’t working, read here for more information.
A cooling system transfers heat to control temperature. Let’s look at an everyday example of heat transfer first.
When you pull a mug out of the cupboard for your morning coffee, the mug is comfortable to touch. However, once you’ve poured your coffee in, the mug becomes hot.
This difference in the mug’s temperature is due to heat transfer: the heat of the near-boiling water in your mug transfers through the mug to your hand. If you put a cozy around your mug or a lid on it, you’re trying to minimize heat transfer so your coffee stays hot longer.
The cooling system in most modern consumer vehicles uses liquid to help the engine both heat up when it starts and cool down when it gets too hot. This liquid goes by several names: coolant, antifreeze, and refrigerant are perhaps the most common, but not all are correct:
A cooling system circulates coolant through the engine, either collecting heat and moving it to another location, such as outside the vehicle to dissipate it, or into the cabin for heating.
However, when you start your engine in winter, the cooling system briefly halts coolant flow. In this situation, the coolant serves as an insulator, absorbing heat and channeling it back to the engine, allowing it to warm up faster.
Most problems in a cooling system result in the engine overheating or running cold. We’ll cover the major symptoms of each problem here.
Overheating can cause extreme (and potentially permanent) damage to your engine. Sometimes, it can even lead to a fire.
Common symptoms of engine overheating include:
Don’t ignore these signs! Addressing overheating symptoms promptly can lead to a quick, low-cost repair for your vehicle.
This issue is often less dangerous than overheating, but it will cause future problems. Running cold can result in many problems:
If these problems continue, you risk further damage and expensive repairs to your engine.
Here are some signs your engine may be running at a lower-than-optimal temperature:
When you take your vehicle into a garage, a mechanic will inspect it. They may examine any of the following components:
A maintenance appointment may include a coolant flush to replace the coolant itself. Should the mechanic find any issues with your cooling system, they must call you first to obtain your approval to continue with the repairs.
For questions about your coolant system, or to schedule a maintenance appointment, visit a NAPA AUTOPRO service centre and speak with an expert.
