Common cooling problems

The most common coolant issue is low fluid caused by a leak. A leak can occur anywhere in the cooling system from a cracked or worn hose and radiator to a leaking water pump seal or heater core. To check for leaks or cracks that aren’t immediately visible, use a pressure tester. The pressure tester forces coolant through the system, making any leaks more obvious.

When was the last time you flushed and filled your radiator? Electrochemical degradation from old coolant and contaminants can weaken the cooling system, leading to corrosion of the radiator and puts hoses, the water pump, thermostat and radiator cap at risk. A coolant flush and fill is recommended every five years or every 100,000 miles. If you’re worried about an issue within this interval, you can use a coolant tester to measure temperature protection.

Thermostats control the flow of coolant into the radiator by changing between ‘open’ and ‘closed’ positions. When they fail, they stick in one of these two positions. If the thermostat fails in the open position, it will allow a continuous flow of coolant into the radiator, causing the engine to run inefficiently and other parts to incur extra wear. In this situation, your vehicle will not be able to reach operating temperature. A few ways to notice this issue are if the temperature gauge hovers around the C marker, if the check engine light comes on, or if the heater is blowing cool or just a little warm, but not hot. If the thermostat fails in the closed position, coolant flow is blocked completely and your engine will overheat. In this case, a dashboard light should surface, you’ll notice the temperature gauge closer to H, staying on H, or jumping to H very quickly while driving, and the thermostat needs to be replaced immediately.