COOLING SYSTEM CHECK : Unfortunately, many motorists wait until the first severe cold snap or the hottest day of the year before paying attention to their cars' cooling system.
This often results in "crisis repairs" rather than preventive maintenance. The following tips from Automotive Cooling System Institute help avoid car trouble.
Cooling System "Tune-Up" Checklist


• Flush dirt, bugs and leaves from front of radiator with a brush and garden hose
• Inspect the radiator cap. Replace it if the rubber gasket is broken, dried out, or missing
• Check the condition and level of coolant. If it is rusty, clean the system and replace with a 50/50 mixture of water and ethylene glycol anti-freeze
• Inspect radiator and radiator hoses for leaks, cracks or soft, mushy condition. Tighten all clamps. Replace hoses as needed
• Look for the heater hose running from the engine, through the fire wall, to the heater core under the dash. Replace swollen or cracked hoses. To check the hoses, start the engine and turn on the heater. If after ten minutes the hoses are cool, they could be clogged
• Inspect all engine belts for wear and cracks. Replace if worn, cracked or glazed. Adjust loose belts. Note: Some engines have a V-ribbed belt that drives some or all of the accessories. If the belt grooves show excessive cracks or "chunking", replace the belt
• Check the thermostat operation by running the engine for 10-15 minutes. Generally, it's OK if you can feel warm coolant surging through the upper hose. Beware of an engine that runs too hot or too cool. Tighten loose bolts on the thermostat housing at the engine
• Clean the engine exterior. Excessive oil and dirt will hide leaks, or insulate the engine, causing it to run hot
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CLEAN FLUSH REFILL  : To avoid problems resulting from rust, dirt and mineral deposits in the cooling system, it's best to give it an internal cleaning every year or two
It's easy. Here's how:
1. Begin with the engine cold and ignition off. Remove the radiator pressure cap.
2. Open the petcock at the bottom of the radiator and drain the coolant into a bucket.
3. Close the petcock and fill the radiator with water.
4. Start the engine and turn the heater control to hot. Add cooling system cleaner and idle the engine for 30 minutes (or as per the instructions on container).
5. Stop the engine and allow it to cool for five minutes. Drain the system.
6. Close the petcock, fill the radiator with water and let the engine idle for five minutes.
7. Repeat step No.5. Close the petcock.
8. Install new 50/50 mixture of water and ethylene glycol antifreeze/coolant   (BACK TO TOP)


PREVENTIVE CAR MAINTENANCE  : Don’t worry about a dead battery or flat tire anymore," high school senior Candy Cool told her dad. "I have a car phone now."
More and more drivers, of all ages and both genders, rely on their car phones for an added measure of security when traveling. Does that marvelous companion provide a false sense of security? Maybe so, suggests the Car Care Council. It can't take the place of maintenance. Several measures that can reduce the risk of a breakdown are offered by the Council. It begins with a complete checkup and servicing of the cooling system
Cooling system service for cold weather? Neglecting that important service can result in overheating, says the Council, often leading to major damage. After a summer of extreme heat, rubber components, including cooling system hoses, should be inspected for deterioration. Radiator and heater hoses, which circulate hot, pressurized antifreeze/coolant throughout the engine, also are subjected to extreme under-hood temperatures
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WHERE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD :  This familiar tire ad line takes on a different meaning when the rubber is a broken drive belt, often seen lying on the road. Belts are driven by an engine pulley to power accessories such as the alternator, power steering pump, cooling system water pump, air conditioner compressor and more. When a belt fails one or all of the above are disabled. So maybe the driver could face a long wait for help.
Cooling system service, including inspection, flushing and replacement of antifreeze/coolant, is a basic part of engine protection. The procedure should include a pressure test, which could disclose a leaking radiator, heater core or pressure cap.
Don't take your battery for granted, if it's 3 or more years old, have it and the charging system tested. A battery that seemed strong last month may put out only about half of its power when the temperature drops into the low teens  (BACK TO TOP)

TIME TO REPLACE TIRES

How are your tires? Deep tread can make a big difference in safety and traction on wet roads. Tire inflation, which should be checked about once a month, decreases about one pound for every 10 degrees of temperature drop. This means tires that Were inflated to 34 pounds when the temperature was 85 o F. will be under inflated by 6 pounds at 25 degrees. That's enough to shorten tire life, affect vehicle control and waste gas. Properly functioning windshield defrosters, lights and windshield wipers can be life savers when driving at night in bad weather.   (BACK TO TOP)