Don't Get Beat By Summer Heat
As the temperature rises, so does the wear and tear on your vehicle. Heat is one of your engine's biggest enemies, and summertime brings it by the barrel. Luckily, we don't have to stress out about it. Our cars are so well designed they can function in temperatures from below zero to above 100 degrees. That is, as long as we humans can remember to maintain them. Oil and coolant are the most important things to take car of when the season changes. Both of these fluids aid in keeping your engine cool. If either is low or out of spec, heat buildup is inevitable. Too much heat can lead to plenty of time on the side of the road, and some steep repair bills. Your summer maintenance checklist tells you to change your oil and check your coolant. But did you know that it's not enough to just check the level of your coolant? You need to check the mixture, as well. If your coolant-to-water ratio isn't right, you won't get maximum cooling power. You can easily test your coolant mixture using a simple tool from the auto parts store. It's cheap, and will give you peace of mind for those summer road trips.
photo CC licensed by FoundPhotosLJ
Comments
Great write up. I’m from Alaska, and appreciate the cooler climate we have to enjoy. No danger of plus 100 temperatures here.
No dispute w/ “No danger of plus 100″ in Alaska but the range of temps calls for superior product options to fight them to keep engines and related parts protected. Propylene Glycol antifreeze/coolant lasts longer and is not lethal or toxic - compared to ethyl glycol which kills.
Great point about the different coolant formulas. The old stuff can be deadly if an animal discovers a puddle of it, and the sweet taste appeals to them, too. I second the motion to go with the safe formula.