Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Thermostat

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The thermostat is part of your cooling system.  The thermostats in your vehicle perform a similar function to the thermostats in your home.  At home, you set your thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature range.  Then when your home gets too hot, the air conditioning kicks on or when it gets too cool, the heater turns on.

So your engine also has an optimal temperature range:  warm enough to run efficiently and not so hot as to cause engine damage.  Your vehicle’s thermostat is a valve between the engine and the radiator.  When Denver residents first start a cold engine, the valve (thermostat) is closed, allowing the coolant surrounding the engine to warm up to the proper operating temperature.  As the coolant gets hotter, the thermostat opens, allowing coolant to flow through to the radiator to be cooled.  The thermostat opens and closes to keep the engine within a certain temperature range.

Now thermostats are rated for a specific temperature depending on the engine – not a one size fits all proposition.  Thermostats are subject to normal wear.  Proper operation depends on a special wax that expands as it heats up to open a spring-loaded valve.  A worn thermostat could stick in the open position causing the engine to run too cool.  This is inefficient and could affect performance and fuel economy.  If a thermostat sticks in the closed position, the engine can be subject to the results of overheating.

There isn’t a specific routine for drivers to maintain their thermostat, but maintaining the cooling system by changing the coolant/antifreeze on a regular schedule will make sure the coolant has enough corrosion inhibitors to protect the thermostat and other system components.  Cooling system experts and the team at Express Car Care in Denver recommend replacing your thermostats when you do a coolant flush or exchange.  Also, thermostats usually wear out faster than your hoses, so if a worn hose replacement is performed, replace the thermostat at the same time.

If your temperature warning light comes on, have an inspection of your cooling system right away.  This could be a thermostat.  The thermostat could also be the culprit for Denver residents who aren’t getting hot air when they turn on their heater.

The thermostat is a relatively inexpensive part that stands guard between you and catastrophic engine damage.  Follow your owner’s manual instructions or check with your friendly and knowledgeable Express Car Care service adviser to see if it’s time for a cooling system inspection or service.

Your Car’s Heating and Cooling System Does More Than Keeping You Comfortable

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When most people think about temperature control inside their vehicle, they usually consider them to be two separate systems. Heating is used in the winter, cooling is used in the summer, with the most important part of the process being comfort.

Imagine arriving at your destination if you’ve driven across town in one-hundred degree heat and no air conditioning. It would be a miserable experience. Equally so as the temperatures creep towards zero, without a heater warming the interior cabin.

What makes both possible is the ventilation system that connects all the parts together. Yes, you need a heater and an air conditioner. But without the ventilation system providing a way for cooled or warmed air to move, you would be left to control temperatures by raising and lowering your windows.

So, how does your car’s heating and cooling system work?

Let’s talk about how your heater and air conditioner are related.

How a car’s heater and air conditioning works

Your car’s heater is a smaller version of the cooling system. Coolant circulates through a small radiator, often called a heater core. A fan is used at the front of the heater core to blow the cold air from outside over the fins. As this air moves through the heater core, it heats and becomes the warm air that is pumped inside the cabin through the heater vents.

Your Car’s Heating and Cooling System Does More Than Keeping You ComfortableThe cooling system consists of a compressor, condenser, and evaporator. Refrigerant is compressed in the compressor, which turns into a hot gas. It moves to the condenser where it is cooled to a liquid state. It continues to move through the system, returning to a low-pressure gas as it rapidly cools in the evaporator. A fan blows over the evaporator during this process, cooling the air that blows through the vents inside the cabin of your vehicle.

Sounds easy enough, right? It’s easy to see how they are both connected. But they intertwine even more.

As the engine runs and causes friction and combustion, heat builds. Most of this is expelled through the exhaust system, but the remaining heat must be handled in some way. Coolant and water mix within the engine block and radiator to release the heat into the atmosphere. On cold days, that heat travels inside your cabin for warmth. But on warm days, your engine could overheat if something disrupts this process. That means your heating system is responsible for keeping your engine functioning properly all year long.

Likewise, on cold winter mornings you might wake to a layer of frost spread across your windshield. It’s not just your car’s heating system that warms it up, it’s the cooling system too. Multiple components all work together to pull humidity out of the air, helping to defrost your windows so you can see to drive. If you notice defogging issues, it may be time to recharge your air conditioning system, or check for leaks or damage.

What are the common problems with a vehicle’s heating and cooling system?

Have you ever heard of a vehicle needing to recharge the air conditioning system? That means ensuring the refrigerant is at proper levels to do its job well.

From time to time, refrigerants can wear down or leak. If this is the case, the equipment should be repaired before refilling to ensure maximum efficiency. It can be difficult to tell as some leaks are tiny at best. But you can watch for puddles forming that are either green or orange. Healthy coolant will be green (ethylene glycol) or orange (Dexcool). If it puddles as more of a rusty color, that means the rust inhibitor in the coolant is no longer doing its job, so rust and scale are building up. Changing it out will breathe new life back into your heating and cooling system.

Topping off the coolant may seem like a quick and easy thing to do. You can buy coolant at your local auto parts store. But the bigger question is: why was it leaking in the first place? The way the system is built, it should never leak coolant. That means somewhere there is a compromise to the system. It could be a cracked hose. It might be a radiator cap gone bad. It could be a damaged water pipe. But if you don’t get to the root of the problem and fix it, you’ll continue to have trouble even after filling up the coolant.

Depending on how old your vehicle is could be a problem too. The EPA phased out the use of R-12 coolant in all refrigeration systems, replacing it with R-134. R-12 has been determined to cause ozone depletion, impacting the ozone layer. So it’s been phased out over time with one safer for the environment. If you still drive a vehicle that uses R-12, you may need to retrofit the system to handle the newer R-134 coolant. Seales, hoses, even the compressor might need to be swapped for a newer model.

Corrosion will also cause the core to leak. Over time, it may leak steam into the interior cabin and fog up your windows. You may also detect a leak by a sweet smell coming through your vents when the system is in operation.

Prevention methods

In most cases, your car’s heating and cooling system won’t create a lot of problems. If you pay attention to your car, running standard performance checks every time you drive, you’ll notice a problem long before it grows into something bigger. If you notice a problem with heating or cooling, hear a strange noise, or smell something unusual, don’t ignore it. Once may be a fluke, but if it happens multiple times, bring your car in for an inspection.

With winter coming, it’s especially important to ensure your heating system is working at its best. Have you noticed problems with your air conditioning this summer? Is your car not as cold as it once was? Schedule a maintenance visit today to ensure your heating and cooling system are fully operational.

It will ensure you have a stress-free driving experience every time you head out the door.

Is Your Car’s Air Conditioner Not Working? 

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There’s one thing Colorado isn’t short of – sunny days. Colorado advertises 300 days of annual sunshine, mild temperatures, and record snowfalls – all of that makes it the perfect place to live, no matter how you like your weather.

Of course, once you live here, you have to drive in said weather. Those record snowfalls can be troublesome if you’re trying to get somewhere on time. And when the temperatures creep higher – 80s, 90s, 100s – you’ll be sweating it out as you make a break from your home to the car, and everywhere you choose to go.

But what if your car air conditioner doesn’t work when you need it most? You open up the windows, drive for a bit, and wait for the system to cool down. Only it never does, and you’re stuck roasting in a hot car, stuck to your leather seats.

Why won’t your car air conditioner work?

What is black death?

Is Your Car’s Air Conditioner Not Working? Imagine a sludgy, sticky, dark goo slowly flowing inside your car’s internal workings. As the refrigerant in your car’s air conditioning system breaks down, it slowly moves inside the compressor.

Refrigerant is a fluid that helps your car operate at its best. Think of it as the motor oil for your air conditioning system. But as this fluid breaks down, it thickens. And as it moves into the compressor, it gums up everywhere, including the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and all the moving parts.

And that sticky, grimy substance won’t just disappear. You have to replace the major pieces, and flush the lines clean. Yep, you guessed it, this isn’t an easy (or budget-friendly) process.

Of course, this is the worst case scenario. There are warning signs your car’s air conditioning system is having trouble long before it completely shuts down. Catch it early, and it’s a much easier (and less expensive) repair.

It starts with knowing your car’s air conditioner

From the moment you drive your car home, it’s important to take note of how it runs. Pay attention to the noises it makes, the feel of the drive, the smell as you turn different systems on. This is your base.

Two things make all the difference in keeping your car operating as it should.

1. Paying attention to changes – if you notice any change, don’t ignore it. The sooner you get it checked by one of our mechanics, the easier it will be to fix. And in most cases, a lot less expensive too.

2. Performing regular maintenance – along with oil changes and tune ups, if a mechanic completes a diagnostic test regularly, it can alert you to potential problems long before they create lasting damage to your vehicle.

These are the things you should watch for with your air conditioning system.

An air conditioner with weak airflow

Remember when your car was new, and you could barely handle the cold blast when you turned your air conditioner on high? Slowly, that blast has disappeared. The main causes of weak airflow include:

  • A hose has come loose. Through all of its use, the blower hose that connects to the blower unit has wiggled free.
  • The ventilation fan no longer works. If the fan is broken, it can’t push air through the system.
  • Seals have been compromised. Think of all the rattling, clanking, and banging going on underneath the hood as you drive each day. Bumps, potholes, and even speed on the highway can slowly rattle connections apart. There are a variety of seals within the air conditioning system that can eventually wear down, such as the core case seal or the blower hose seal.
  • Contaminants such as mold and mildew can build up over time. Water flows in the air conditioning system. That residue moisture from the cooling process sometimes accumulates. When this happens, mold and mildew can start to build. Not only will it impact the air flow, but it can also impact your health as it blows this contaminated air supply into your vehicle.

An air conditioner that isn’t as cold as it once was

Your air conditioner is still working … sort of. There is cold air, but it’s not as cold as it once was. That lack of cold air can be caused by a number of things.

  • A failed blower motor
  • A vacuum leak
  • A failed switch or fuse
  • A damaged condenser or evaporator
  • A failed compressor
  • A clogged refrigerant hose
  • A refrigerant leak

When one part of the air conditioning system no longer works, it throws the entire system off. If you’re experiencing an air supply that isn’t as cold as it once was, chances are there’s a problem somewhere in the system. Even the smallest leak can quickly escalate into a major repair.

An air conditioner that smells bad when you turn it on

This goes beyond the smell you first get when you turn it on for the first time. If you continually notice an odorous smell that resembles an old gym locker, it could be:

  • A dirty air cabin filter
  • A moldy evaporator case

Because the system has been compromised, you’ll continue to get that smell until you fix the system.

Is there a way to test for an air conditioner leak?

Since one of the biggest reasons for an air conditioner problem is a leak somewhere in the system, there are a few ways you can test to find out where it’s starting from.

The first way is by using a fluorescent dye. This is the least expensive and does a good job at detecting a leak. However, if the leak is tucked away from your line of vision, it can be difficult to detect.

The second way is with a sniffer. This is a tool that is placed near a suspected problem area to find the leak. When it finds a refrigerant leak, it emits a warning signal to the user. A faster beep means the leak is larger in size.

Both of these are dependent on knowing your vehicle and how it operates. You can trust one of our mechanics to find the root of the problem, and offer you the best solution to fix your car’s air conditioning problem.

Why fix your air conditioning problem right away?

Because the longer it goes unfixed, the bigger the potential problem can grow. If left unchecked, it can further damage your air flow system, and spread into other systems throughout your car. If a leak or crack turns worse, corrosion can occur on other parts, belts and lines can snap, doing further damage to parts nearby.

Are you set for the summer season with your air conditioner? How can we help you stay cool no matter how high the temperatures climb?

Air Blend Box

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You push a few buttons or turn some knobs, and voila, you have warm air blowing on your feet or cool air chilling your face.  How does it all happen?  Well, it’s all thanks to the air blend box.  This box lives behind your dash and serves up just the right air temperature right where you want it.

Here’s how we break it down.  First there is the blower fan that circulates the air through the heating/air conditioning system.  The fan can blow at different speeds, depending on how much hot or cold air you need to be comfortable.  The air blend box can either draw in fresh air from outside or recirculate air from inside the cabin.  People often choose to recirculate air when first starting the vehicle until it starts to either cool down or warm up.

The next thing the blend box does is direct airflow over the heater core to warm the air, or over the air conditioner evaporator core to chill it – or a blend of hot and cold to get it just right.  From there the blend box can direct the air out into the passenger compartment through the floor vents, the panel vents, the defroster, or a combination of them.  All of this allows you to customized the climate just the way you like it.

Some vehicles have different climate control zones, like one for the driver and one for the passenger – or even more zones for the back seat.  Additional air blend boxes are used for this.  Climate controls could be manually adjusted, or computer controlled depending on your vehicle.

The blower motor and all the little actuator motors that open and close the various blend doors can fail and need to be replaced.  Most new vehicles come with a cabin air filter.  This filter cleans the air before it gets into the blend box.  If you neglect changing the cabin air filter, it can get clogged, smelly and even allow mildew and other microorganisms to build up in the blend box.  Your service center can perform a heating/air conditioning system cleaning service that will clean and disinfect the system, restoring a fresh clean scent.  If you are not getting enough hot or cold air, your service center can inspect your system, diagnose the cause and set things right.  And don’t forget to replace your cabin air filter on schedule.  If you live and drive in dusty conditions or where there is a lot of pollen or other pollutants, you may need to replace your cabin air filter more frequently.

The Importance Of Your Car’s Heating and Air Conditioning System

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Heating and cooling inside your vehicle is so automatic, you probably don’t think much about it. Whether it’s warm or cold outside, you push a button or flip a lever, and your car is conditioned just the way you like it.

When something goes wrong with your car’s heating and air conditioning system, you’ll learn how important it is. A one hundred degree day in Colorado can leave you scrambling out of your car as quickly as possible. And when you can’t get the heat to turn on, you might not be going anywhere. A problem with your heating and cooling system can also impact ice and moisture buildup on your windows. If you can’t see, you can’t drive.

If you’re having a problem with your car’s heating and air conditioning system, what could be the problem?The Importance Of Your Car’s Heating and Air Conditioning System

What causes your car’s heater or air conditioner to stop working?

Many different things can cause the heater or air conditioner to stop working in your vehicle. Here are the most common situations.

If your air conditioner is blowing hot air, it could be a refrigerant leak

Refrigerant is a specially formulated fluid designed for transforming hot air into cold air. It does this by absorbing heat, releasing it, and leaving cool air in its place. It has a similar purpose as motor oil or radiator coolant, with refrigerant specifically designed for the cooling system.

You may have heard of refrigerant referred to as Freon. Freon, also known as R12, was the primary chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) used within the air conditioning system to keep cars cooled until it was banned by the EPA in the mid 1990s. Freon has a chemical that depletes the ozone layer and causes all kinds of environmental concerns. When the EPA discovered its problems, it banned continued use and created a timetable for phase-out.

Today, the auto industry continues to switch to CFC-free refrigerant, which is safer and eliminates CFCs from being released into the environment. The EPA has issued guidelines that state all vehicles by 2021 will no longer use R134a, a replacement of R12, which is also shown to have a potent greenhouse gas with global warming potential. New climate-friendly refrigerants continue to be developed and will be added to newer models of vehicles.

A refrigerant leak in your vehicle can be a serious problem, depending on the age of your car. Newer cars may already use upgraded refrigerants, which make repair a fairly easy process. However, if your car is older and uses one of the older refrigerants, it could mean a complete replacement of your car’s air conditioning system to bring it up to date.

If your air conditioner is blowing hot air, it could be a failed AC compressor

The AC compressor is the main component of your car’s air conditioning system. It forces refrigerant to flow through the entire system, giving you the cool air you demand.

On most of our modern day cars, the AC compressor is belt-driven. That means if your AC compressor isn’t working, it’s most likely a problem with the belt. Maybe the belt has slipped off the pulley. Or the belt has seized or failed entirely. In any case, your air conditioner will stop working entirely.

Because many modern day vehicles use one common serpentine belt to control a variety of your car’s accessories, you might notice other problems too if the belt breaks.

Age is also a factor. Like every part of your vehicle, the AC compressor will only last for so long. It wears out over time, and when it will no longer work, it’s time for replacement. When an AC compressor breaks, it can also send bits and particles of metal and other substances to other parts of your system. If you continue operating it without flushing the system out, you could wind up with bigger problems down the road.

If your air conditioner is blowing hot air, it could be a failed blower motor

This one is pretty easy to detect. Sitting behind the vents in your dashboard is a fan called the blower motor. If it has a problem, no air will flow through the vents. It could be either a failed blower motor or a problem with the electrical system, so it’s a good idea to have the system assessed by one of our technicians.

If your heater is blowing cold air, it could be low coolant

The same system that is responsible for keeping your engine cool is what operates your heating system. If your car is having problems with the cooling system, it will ultimately cause an issue with your heating system too.

Your car operates with coolant, or antifreeze, to absorb heat from the rapidly moving parts in your vehicle.  If there is a leak in the system, it means there isn’t enough coolant to do its job. All it takes is topping off the coolant to fix the problem.

If your heater is blowing cold air, it could be a failed heater

Just like other parts of your vehicle, the heater core can rust, corrode, clog, and ultimately fail over time. If the heater goes bad, it will have to be replaced.

How to prevent issues with the car’s heating and air conditioning system

The good news is that with today’s newer cars, there is rarely a problem with the heating and cooling system unless there is a defect during the manufacturing process. If you have a newer car, you shouldn’t experience any problems with your heater or air conditioner until they reach 60,000 miles or more. The older the car is, the more miles you put on, the more risk you’ll have of experiencing a problem.

That’s why it’s equally important to know your car well. Don’t just drive your car and ignore the tiny details that make it unique. Instead, listen to the sounds it makes, watch the way your car handles, and pay attention to anything new that pops up as you drive. Don’t ignore warning signs; take action right away.

The best way to ensure your car’s heating and air conditioning system work properly for the life of your car is to ensure proper maintenance. That means taking your car regularly for check ups, to ensure everything is working the way it should. By having a trusted mechanic on your side, you’ll know your car will be there for you, working properly no matter how many miles you have to drive.

When was the last time you brought your vehicle in for maintenance?

Serpentine Belt Replacement

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Your serpentine belt is a long belt that’s driven by your engine.  It winds around several accessories that power important automotive systems.  Let’s go over them.

  • First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system.
  • Next, the belt powers the alternator.
  • The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes.  In some vehicles, power steering may have an electric drive and power brakes can be vacuum driven.
  • On many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump ( on some cars, the water pump is powered by the timing belt).

Your service technician can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and also measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

There’s a special, spring-loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley and sometimes an extra pulley called the idler pulley.  Their job is to make sure there’s a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn’t slip.  The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight.  That’s why it’s often recommended that the tensioner, and the idler pulley, if so equipped, be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

All in all, the serpentine belt’s an important part for the function of your vehicle and it’s not as expensive to replace as you might think.  So it’s good to do your serpentine belt replacement before it fails.

Give us a call and let us help you.

Simple Answers: Air Conditioner

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Question:  Why isn’t my air conditioner blowing cold air?

Express Car Care Answer:  Your air conditioner uses refrigerant to create cold air.  The most common reasons drivers lose their cold air have to do with the refrigerant.

The first reason is not enough refrigerant.  Refrigerant is a gas in the air conditioning system and if there are small holes in a hose, seal or coupler, enough gas can leak out and prevent the system from creating cold air.

Another potential problem for auto owners is contamination.  Over time, the inside of the rubber hoses can deteriorate, and little bits of rubber can clog up various filters and other parts of the vehicle air conditioning system, preventing proper circulation of the refrigerant.  A component of the system could also be worn or broken.  So the first step for drivers who can’t cool their vehicle is a thorough air conditioning inspection, looking for leaks and worn parts.  In fact, Federal law requires an inspection before adding refrigerant.  Some states do not allowing topping off a leaking system.

Once any repairs are made, refrigerant is added.  At the same time, special oil is added to the system.  This oil cools and lubricates various components as it circulates along with the refrigerant.  If you have a refrigerant leak, you also have an oil leak – and it’s important that both be replenished for proper function and protection of your A/C system.

Sometimes overlooked by drivers is the fact that a worn serpentine belt ( which drives the A/C compressor) leads to belt slippage which puts additional strain on the compressor.  Replacing your serpentine belt and belt tensioner on schedule at Express Car Care will extend the life of your A/C compressor and other belt driven accessories.

Come in and see us.

Advice on Your Cooling System

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Last week I was out running errands and my temperature warning light came on – total panic!  I pulled over and my car was overheating.  After I waited for it to cool down, I went right into my Denver service center to have them take a look.  My service adviser at Express Car Care told me my water pump was leaking and needed to be replaced.  He said water pumps just wear out and that they need to be replaced, because they have the important task of pumping the coolant that cools the engine while it’s running.

He told me they checked out my radiator hoses, serpentine belt and tensioner and that they were fine, but I was overdue for changing my coolant – embarrassingly overdue.  I didn’t realize there was a schedule in my owner’s manual for when to change my coolant.  My Express Car Care service professional said that the coolant actually becomes corrosive over time and could damage my radiator, head gaskets, intake manifold gaskets, heater core, metal cooling pipes, expansion plugs,…the list goes on.  That’s why they recommend changing the fluid on schedule.

So after they replaced the coolant with the kind my owner’s manual recommends and after learning a difficult lesson, I was on my way.  It feels good knowing my cooling system is healthy now and I don’t need to worry about it.  At least until my next scheduled coolant change.

Air Conditioning

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Let’s talk about air conditioning service and repair issues today.  Most of us in Denver don’t give our air conditioning a second thought – just as long as it’s making cold air.  But it’s a complex and expensive system that we should think more about before it starts blowing out hot air.

The refrigerant in the air conditioner contains a special oil that lubricates and cools the A/C parts.  When enough refrigerant leaks out, your air conditioner still makes cold air, but the parts don’t have enough oil to protect them and they wear out faster than they should.  That’s why it’s so important to service the air conditioner as recommended by your service center.

Replacing old refrigerant has another benefit:  refrigerant tends to gather moisture and become corrosive.  That causes leaks in the system which can be expensive to repair.  Fresh refrigerant protects the air conditioning components and keeps the system operating at peak efficiency so it doesn’t have to work as hard to keep you cool.

Even with regular service, A/C parts can just wear out.  Normal wear and tear eventually affects all moving parts.

Addressing early problems can save on more extensive repairs down the road.  For instance, a common failure is the clutch that turns the compressor on and off.  If you can take care of a bad A/C clutch when it first starts having problems, you may be able to save the compressor.  But if you wait too long you’ll have to replace them both.

Check your owner’s manual or ask your service adviser for service recommendations.  And if you are hearing strange sounds when your air conditioning turns on, or if it just isn’t as cold as it used to be, have us give it the once over and see what it will take to keep you cool.

Question on Your Cooling System

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Express Car Care Question:  I was driving down the freeway in Denver and smoke started coming out of my car.  I pulled over and called my husband.  I had to be towed to my mechanic.  He said my car had overheated.  What can I do to prevent this from happening in the future?

Express Car Care Answer:  It sounds like you had a rough experience.  Unfortunately, overheating is the most common engine problem in Denver.  It’s also one of the simplest to prevent.

The basic idea is this:  you need to keep enough coolant/antifreeze flowing through your vehicle’s engine to keep it cool.  Problems come up for drivers when they develop leaks in their cooling systems – like in the radiator or a hose – and the coolant leaks out.  Sometimes the coolant gets so contaminated that it blocks up the radiator so the coolant can’t get through.  Too much of that and you can’t help but end up broken down on the side of the road.

Your owner’s manual recommends a schedule for coolant replacement.  That’s because your coolant actually becomes corrosive over time and starts to eat away at the cooling system, causing leaks or blockages.  Fluid that was once beneficial to your engine becomes damaging.  New coolant puts an end to that process.

Ask your knowledgeable service techs at Express Car Care about inspecting your vehicle cooling system for leaks, spongy hoses and other damage.  If it’s time to replace your coolant, hoses or other cooling system parts, have it done right away.  Prevention is the key to your cooling system question.

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