Maintaining your vehicle is essential if you want to keep it running well and operating at peak performance. The usual maintenance procedures are usually not issues for most people; but performing basic maintenance operations to keep your radiator and engine running well is just as important yet often overlooked. Your car radiator is one of the most important operating components of your automobile. It’s responsible for keeping your automobile’s engine at a safe operating temperature, where a malfunctioning automotive radiator could mean big trouble for you. Auto radiator and truck radiator problems can often develop without you even knowing it. Small particles of dirt and rust can clog up the essential elements, preventing your car radiator from being able to cool your engine properly. With these, your vehicle will overheat, potentially leaving you stranded. The best way to avoid such problems, which will inevitably happen with all automotive radiators as they age, is with regular routine maintenance and services. Radiator maintenance is an integral part of the overall ‘health’ of your vehicle because the engine has to remain at a prime operating temperature in order to work properly. The maintenance is mostly about the fluids. Other problems with the cooling system can arise, for various different reasons, but for basic maintenance and upkeep, maintaining the vital fluids in the radiator is what will keep your vehicle humming with life for years. Coolant is a fluid recommended with options of replacement. In addition to its replacement, it is also a good idea to flush and refill the radiator every one to two years to ensure the cooling system will run well, even if your mileage is low after this period of time. The coolant is a big part of what keeps your engine in top working order with the ability to keep your engine running under extreme temperature variations. However, over time, rust and sediment can build up in your vehicle’s cooling system making it necessary to drain and flush out the coolant from time to time to clean out anything that may be clogging up the system. If you are going to take on the job yourself, turn the ignition off and wait until the engine is cool. Then remove the radiator cap to drain the fluid. Once the fluid has finished draining, put the plug back in place. If you think your cooling system needs a more thorough cleaning to remove excess sediment and rust, pour the coolant product into the radiator along with some water. Run the engine on high for sometime, stop it and follow the first steps; let it cool down, remove the plug, and drain it. When refilling your engine, you will need to know the ratio of coolant to water before refilling, which is usually a 50/50 ratio. Being vigilant will help you catch minor car radiator problems before they become major ones. eddiemukaaya@yahoo.com
