Jacksonville Cooling System Repair & Maintenance
Radiator
Today’s
automobiles use aluminum radiators to transfer heat from the hot
coolant flowing through the radiator to the air blown through it by the
fan. The radiator and fans serve to keep the engine and the transmission
at acceptable temperatures. On most automobiles with automatic
transmissions, automatic transmission fluid is routed through an oil
cooler inside the radiator.
Maintenance and automobile:
A
radiator leak between the coolant and the automatic transmission fluid
can contaminate the transmission fluid and cause transmission failure.
Red or brown drops of oil in the coolant would be a symptom of such a
leak. Because the transmission oil cooler is inside the radiator, the
radiator must be replaced in order to eliminate the problem.
Jacksonville AAMCO’s External Diagnostic Service for transmissions and
36-point ProtectCheck can help to pinpoint problems in the radiator and
cooling system.
Antifreeze/Coolant
Antifreeze/coolant,
when used properly, serves to prevent freezing, boiling and corrosion
in the cooling system. Your owner’s manual indicates the correct
antifreeze/coolant for your specific automobile.
Maintenance and automobile:
Cooling
system failure is the leading cause of mechanical failure on the
highway, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Generally,
antifreeze/coolant should be changed by a Jacksonville AAMCO mechanic
about every two years or 24,000 miles, and many automobile
professionals believe annual changes are warranted for late model
automobiles with aluminum radiators. The main issue is corrosion
resistance; if the antifreeze/coolant loses its ability to inhibit
corrosion, the result can be expensive internal corrosion in the
radiator, heater core and engine. The only way to know if the
antifreeze/coolant still has adequate corrosion protection is to test
it, which can be performed for your automobile by the trained mechanics
at Jacksonville AAMCO. Please refer to your owners manual for factory
recommended maintenance intervals for your specific automobile.
Thermostat
The
thermostat regulates the cooling systems temperature. When the engine
is cold, the thermostat stays closed and allows the coolant to keep
flowing within the engine and warms the coolant quickly. As the engine
warms, the thermostat opens.
Maintenance and automobile:
Have
your thermostat and entire cooling system checked annually by a
Jacksonville AAMCO mechanic (they are inspected as part of Jacksonville
AAMCO’s ProtectCheck). A bad thermostat can cause a variety of problems,
from overheating, knocking, high idle speed, low temperature gauge
readings, even an emissions test failure.
