Your car’s engine produces a lot of heat. Even with your scheduled oil changes, it can produce enough heat to cause real damage and even to destroy itself, which is why our engines require coolant to keep it at a proper temperature. Without replacing that coolant and thoroughly inspecting the delivery system that supplies it to the engine, it can cause severe engine trouble. A radiator flush from HB Auto & AC can ensure that your coolant system and the engine, by extension, are kept in the best possible health.
The Importance of Coolant Flush
The coolant system is comprised of a variety of components, such as the head gaskets, water pump, heater core, head gaskets, radiator, and heater control valve. These systems ensure the delivery of antifreeze coolant to the engine, removing excess heat through the radiator. The coolant is circulated through the engine via the water pump, coming back to the radiator and heater core where it can effectively disperse heat. The more you use your coolant, however, the less effective it becomes. It deteriorates, meaning it can’t cool the engine as effectively as it once did. Furthermore, it becomes more acidic over time, reducing the rust-inhibiting properties which can lead to the spread of corrosion throughout the engine.
Left untreated, not only will your car generate more heat without the means to cool it, leading to overheating, engine damage, and potential fires. It will also increase the risk of corrosion, which can lead to engine components sustaining damage and needing to be replaced. A simple coolant flush can be enough to prevent you from needing much more costly replacements.
Coolant flush services in Huntington Beach
A coolant flush is the draining of old, acidic coolant that’s full of rust and dirt particles that might otherwise cause the clog of your coolant system. Also known as a radiator flush, it replaces it with clean, efficient coolant. We recommend using high quality coolant that not only cools the engine, but acts as antifreeze, keeping the engine warmer in the winter, and also helps prevent rust with anti-corrosion properties.
A coolant flush also cleans out the radiator, water pump, and other components of the coolant system. It can remove scale, dust, rust, and other deposits that could otherwise impact your engine’s efficiency and ability to cool itself.
By rule of thumb, you should have a coolant flush before your engine clocks 100,000 miles, after which it should be replaced at least every three years. However, to ensure the top performance that your engine offers, you should check with your logbook or owner’s manual to see how often your car’s manufacturer recommends a flush.
Signs you require a coolant flush
One of the clearest signs that you need a coolant flush is that your check engine light will begin to indicate overheating. The hood will get hotter much faster and remain hotter for longer when you’ve turned the engine off. You may also experience a range of issues with the engine as a result of this inability to regulate temperature. You may have trouble getting the car started on particularly hot or particularly cold days.
There is a range of ways to see whether or not you need a coolant flush. You should take it to a qualified auto technician to be sure, but most coolant systems have a gauge to help you see when your coolant system is low. Otherwise, you may be notified of issues by a low coolant level light on the vehicle’s dashboard.
There are also other potential issues that can cause trouble with coolant, however. This can include leaks and blockages that will also impact the vehicle’s performance and lead to overheating and perhaps even the outbreak of an engine fire. If you see any leaks underneath the car or you catch a sweet smell from the engine, those are both sure signs that something could be wrong with your coolant system.
Other services we provide
Your coolant flush is but one example of a fluid change. Your auto regularly requires replacements for fluids, one of the most important being the oil change. The moving components of the engine produce a lot of heat. Besides the coolant that regulates their temperature, oil lubricates all those components, reducing the amount of friction they cause. Without that oil change, your engine is more likely to overheat, doing damage to those components and even leading to the potential of fires breaking out in the engine.
As part of your scheduled maintenance, we also offer a full in-depth tune-up to ensure that there’s nothing else wrong with your engine. This tune-up includes a range of performance checks to highlight and fix any issues that might be lurking beneath the surface. Battery voltage inspection, air leak detection, timing belt wear-and-tear identification and a series of mechanical checks to find issues like bad cams and bad head gaskets. If your car is becoming harder to start, stalls more often, or shows a decrease in fuel efficiency, a tune-up can help find the potential issue.
At HB Auto and AC on Huntington Beach, we offer a wide range of services including air conditioning repair, brake repair, steer and suspension repair, schedule vehicle maintenance, and more. Our team includes specialists with expertise in a wide range of vehicles, including Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Daewoo, Eagle, Fiat, Ford, Geo, GMC, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, HUMMER, Isuzu, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plymouth, Pontiac, Porsche, Saturn, Scion, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.
Come and visit HB Auto and AC
Our team of highly experienced, qualified technicians is ready and waiting at Autopark Drive in Huntington Beach. We prioritize thorough auto care combined with top-notch customer service to make sure that all our customers drive away happy and with real peace of mind. What’s more, we offer $25 off to all new customers, whether they’re seeking routine maintenance or any of our repair services. Feel free to come around to Autopark Drive to meet the team and discuss any issues you’re experiencing or call us up and we can let you know whether you need to come in.