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The Cooling System
Don't Be Left Stranded Alongside The Road
Because so many of us frequent specialty oil change facilities, its easy to get lulled into thinking that because the service technician checked the coolant levels that everything is necessarily okay. But proper cooling system maintenance consists of a lot more than simply adding a little coolant a couple of times a year.
Every year tens of thousands of motorists are left stranded alongside the road because they failed to properly maintain their cooling system. While not all breakdowns are preventable, many could have been avoided the hassle and expense of unplanned repairs by simply following some common sense inspection tips provided by the National Automotive Radiator Service Association (NARSA), a not-for-profit trade association of automotive cooling system and radiator repair specialists.
A 7-point Annual Cooling System Checkup Checklist
should be part of every automobile owner's maintenance program.
1. Radiator pressure cap test to check for the recommended system pressure level.
2. Thermostat check for proper opening and closing;
3. Pressure test to identify any external leaks to the cooling system parts including the radiator, water pump, engine coolant passages, radiator and heater hoses and heater core.
4. Internal leak test to check for combustion gas leakage into the cooling system.
5. Visual inspection of all cooling system components, including belts and hoses.
6. System power flush and refill with car manufacturer's recommended concentration of coolant.
7. Engine fan test for proper operation. |
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1. Cooling System
2. Protecting Your Engine
3. Keeping It Cool
4. The Thermostat
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