If you suspect a coolant leak in your vehicle, inspect your car for any fluids. Leaks can occur in many places in the cooling system, so if you spot any spraying, leaking or bubbling, you can be sure there is an issue. You may also notice a sweet smell coming from under the hood which is an indicator that your coolant is escaping. In addition, check the radiator hoses, coolant housing and gauges for any wear and tear.
If you have located a leak in your vehicle, there are many different locations that could be the source of malfunction. Below are some of the various types of leaks you can encounter and the best way to repair them.
Leaking Heater Core
If you determine your heater core to be leaking, you will need to take the HVAC case apart in order to reach the heater core. If you are very familiar with the car parts, this could be the best course of action for you to take without bringing it in to the shop. The time to replace a heater core can run you over 10 hours or more, so make sure you have the knowledge and time to repair the fix.
Leaking Coolant Hose
If you have a leaky hose, you should replace the clamps as well. Clamps can rust with age, compromising the tightness around the hose. Make sure you inspect them for any corrosion or rusting and replace as needed.
Also, as the coolant hoses get older, they become stiff around the seals and fittings. Make sure when you are removing the old parts, you have some type of sharp blade to cut through the material. This will make it easier when pulling the stuck-on pieces from the fittings.
Leaking Water Pump
If the leaks are coming from the water pump, you will need to drain the cooling system first. This can be done by removing the lower radiator hose or opening the drain valve. Once drained, remove any parts, including hoses that are connected to the water pump. Unscrew the pump from the engine and from there you can remove and replace with a new pump.
The first sign of coolant leaking is an overheating car engine. Take proper care when repairing your car so you do not incur further damages. Always maintain your vehicle and its parts to avoid dealing with coolant leaks in the future.
Tires and Fuel
How long since you last checked the tire pressure of your vehicle? If your tires are below the recommended level, you can cost yourself money every time you fill your tank. On average, a tire will lose about 1 pound per square inch (psi) each month. Less pressure in your tires requires more resistance to friction and rolling on the road, making your engine strain a lot more than it should. At a minimum, be sure to check the tire pressure of your vehicle every month. You can also save fuel by not wasting or losing fuel. Locking fuel caps are a great way to prevent fuel theft. If your fuel cap is damaged or does not close properly, replace or repair it as soon as possible. Replacing any busted caps with locking fuel caps is a good idea if you are replacing them anyway. Fuel caps that are damaged or not properly sealed can result in the loss of many gallons of fuel each year from evaporation.
Speed and A/C Use
The fuel economy of your vehicle decreases exponentially at higher speeds. Driving 65 on the highway instead of 75 could reduce your gas mileage by up to 10%! Your journey will not take much longer, and you will save money on the whole. Air conditioning increases the load on your engine, resulting in increased fuel consumption. Along the same argument, driving with your windows open at highway speeds increases drag and reduces fuel economy. For driving the city at speeds of 45 mph or less, however, rolling the windows down instead of using air conditioning will save you a little more on the gas usage.
Weight and Air Intake
After running around doing all the household chores, packing for holidays, sporting events and pulling boats, it’s easy enough to finish with 50 to 100 pounds of extras in your rear compartment or trunk. The higher the weight of your vehicle, the faster the engine will torque in RPMs. Make sure to regularly clean your trunk and your cargo space to prevent these extra things from weighing you down. Another easy fix is that like all of us, your engine needs to breathe, and a dirty or clogged air filter can impair performance and fuel economy. Replacing an old dirty air filter with a new one can improve the mileage of your vehicle by 5 to 10%. The next time you take your vehicle for general maintenance, ask the technician if the air filter needs to be replaced.
When your thermostat sticks, it can lead to costly repairs. After all, engine overheating is the number one cause of engine failure. Letting your engine overheat can cause a range of problems from shorting electronics due to the moisture buildup to cracked blocks and blown head gaskets, so making sure that your engine stays cool is vital to keeping it alive and running for a long time.
What is a Fail-Safe Thermostat?
Fail-safe thermostats are designed to stay open when they fail. This is not a perfect solution since the system will still run hot. Since the coolant cannot stay in the radiator long enough to cool enough, it will still allow the system to heat up and eventually overheat, but you will get a lot more miles out of it. With a traditional thermostat, they fail in the closed position. This means that coolant cannot flow at all and your system will overheat almost immediately. While you will not be able to drive very long with a failed fail-safe, you can get to the parts house to pick up a replacement.
Why is it So Important?
So, why is keeping your engine cool so important? Well, to answer that, first you have to understand how thermal expansion works. As the metal in the block and heads heats up, it expands. These components are designed to expand to a certain point and not fatigue the metal. This is why your engine usually runs around 200 degrees. If it gets too hot, then it will expand too far and crack the metal. A cracked block is usually the death of your engine, and a cracked head is not much better. If you are lucky, then you may just blow your head gasket, but these repairs can be costly as well. Head gasket repairs can cost several hundred dollars since the head must be removed and inspected for damaged as well.
How Far Can You Go?
This is going to depend on a lot of factors including ambient temperature, engine size, fan speed, and more, so an exact answer is not possible. In general, if you baby it and stop to let it cool once it starts to get too hot then you can drive as far as you have to, though you want to avoid this. Extra heat cycles will reduce the life of your engine. Fail-safe thermostats are designed to get you to the nearest parts house, so expect to be able to get a few miles down the road before having any issues.
If you want to make sure that your car is going to last you for years to come then be sure to pick up a fail-safe thermostat, just in case. A failed thermostat is an unpleasant drive and quick repair. A cracked block is a new car payment.
A car can overheat due to a lot of variables. The key is to prevent the overheating from happening in the first place. In order to do so, you must know what to look for. Next are a few things to look out for should this malfunction happen to you.
Loose Caps
Every month, you should always check for loose coolant caps, nuts, and bolts. A stripped bolt or a cracked cap could cause havoc on your car. Particularly, in the cooling system. Any faulty item can cause coolant to leak or overheat. Replace any worn component immediately.
Low Fluid Levels
Low coolant and water can also cause your car to overheat. If you find that your fluids are low, you can be sure that you have some sort of leak somewhere. Making sure that your engine is cool, fill the low fluid back up with water for a temporary fix. If you are unable to locate and fix the leak, find a reputable car repair shop to do the fix for you.
Thermostat
If you are sure there are no leaks, a broken thermostat may be to blame. Locate the thermostat, usually by the radiator, and inspect for any damages. Once the engine is cool, remove the thermostat and replace if you find it to be faulty. While you can drive without one, it should never be for numerous miles, as you can severely damage your car.
Weather
An overheated car can also come from extremely hot temperatures. If you have an older car or rather finicky one, try to avoid driving in extreme heat. If you can’t, limit your time on the road or only drive before sunrise or after sunset.
Water Pump
A failing water pump is also a common cause of overheating. Located in the cooling system, normal wear and tear can cause it to break. Once the pump is out of commission, overheating starts. A full replacement of the water pump would be necessary.
Cooling System Blockage
From time to time, there could be some loose sediment or debris in the cooling system that will eventually create a blockage of fluids. This blockage could impede passage of the coolant from the radiator to the engine. Make sure to clean any leaves, sticks or dirt from the front of your car on a consistent basis. This debris can make its way inside the engine or cooling system and cause your car to overheat.