Times Advocate, 1992-04-29, Page 14Page 14
Times -Advocate, April 29, 1992
flow to avoid overheating
'1MMn a cooling system fails, U
MOO overheats. And when a car
oveibssts for very long, metal en-
gine parts can be seriously dam-
aged and require expensive repair.
Overheating can result when the
coolant level is too low or when
there is a leak in the system. Some-
times just driving in stop -and -go
traffic on a hot summer day with
the air conditioner running is
enough to overheat the engine.
Coolant loss
A low coolant level, explain engi-
neers, leads to overheating because
there isn't enough fluid in the sys-
tem to absorb engine heat. The air
in the system that is absorbing
these high temperatures is a poor
heat conductor and won't do an ef-
fective job of transferring the heat
to'theradiator.
Cars with coolant recovery tanks
have markings on the white plastic
tank indicating where coolant lev-
els should be when the car is run-
ning and when it's not. If the cool-
ant levet _ is low after -tweeted
fillings; lieu probablyva=o=leak-
in the system.
Coolant hose leaks
Hoses are the most likely source
of leaks because they are structural-
ly the weakest components of the
cooling system. Hoses must be
flexible to absorb vibration, so they
are made of rubber compounds.
Rubber, unfortunately, -is -slot as
durable as metal.
According to engineers, intense
engine heat can harden and crack
even the best rubber, oil can soften
and swell it; the simple passage of
time can break down its internal
bonding; and electrochemical deg-
radation can crack the tube.
In many instances, hose leaks oc-
cur at faulty connections to the inlet
and outlet pipes. Make certain the
hose clamps are secure.
When replacing a hose, it's also a
good idea to replace the clamps.
Traditional worm -drive clamps or
the new constant tension clamps
are best.
To extend the service life of a
hose, keep it away from damaging
external elements such as hot mani-
folds, oil -leading parts and .sharp
edges. In these situations, protect
the hose with a.sleeve.
You should also avoid using the
•
soluble oils found in some coolants,
under the assumption they lubricate
the water pump. Most modern anti-
freeze solutions contain all the lu-
bricants a water pump needs. Solu-
ble oil only serves to destroy a hose
before its time.
All cooling,.system hoses should
be inspected every six months.
Most often, the upper radiator hose
and the curved bypass hose will fail
without warning. But, eventually
they all will need to be replaced.
Engineers recommend replacing
the cooling system hoses roughly
every four years.
Water pump leaks
It is common to find an occasion-
al drop of ,coolant under the water
pump. Excessive leading, however,
indicates a problem. Housing bolts
on the pump should be tight. If they
are, and leaking persists, the
pump's inner seal is probably dam-
aged and the pump must be re-
placed.
Radiator leaks
-Radiator leaks are often just the
- Jesuit- of a loose_ pcicock or -plug.
Simple tightening should correct
this.
The inner seal on the radiator cap
should be checked periodically. If
the seal is cracked, or the metal
parts are rusted, coolant will escape
and the cap will fail to pressurize
the remaining coolant adequately.
-White stains on the radiator point
-to a more serious problem. These
stains result from coolant reacting
with the metal pans. Pouring a liq-
uid sealant in the radiator might
solve the problem, but chances are
good that the radiator needs to be
repaired or replaced. This is fre-
quently the case with many of to-
day's aluminum radiators.
Heater leaks
Leaks can occur in the heater
control valve or in the heater core.
A liquid sealant can sometimes
'help but, more often than not, the
heating system units will have to be
replaced.
Ilaglne leaks
Leaks can occur on the engine
block wherever there is a bolted
housing, such as at the thermostat
or water pump housing.
You should also inspect the
block's drain plugs and core plugs
(also known as freeze plugs). Core
plugs are holes left in the engine
when it is cast and later covered by
metal discs. If these discs loosen or
corrode, coolant can escape from
the block. - - __-.:,--
If -leaking :roatinues-amt,-you've
checked all the hoses, clamp con-
nections and metal components of
the cooling system, the leak is
probably internal.
to all cases, internal leaks can be
the result of blown head gaskets,
cracked heads or blocks, and loose
or damaged head bolts. Usually,
major engine repair is required.
Don't let this happen to your car's heating system.
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Motoring headaches and fatigue reduced
sharply by properly tinting auto windows
Hot, sunny weather may be a welcome change for
winter -weary outdoor enthusiasts, but it literally
can be a major headache for the motoring public.
In addition to stressful highway glare that causes
driver fatigue lengthy exposure to sunlight produces
a "greenhouse effect"
that makes a vehicle's
interior unbearably hot.
Both conditions are
easily remedied by pro-
fessionally installed
window tinting.
"Window tinting not
only sharply limits
harsh highway glare, but can reduce interior heat
build-up by as much as 50 percent," says a leading
expert. "It also improves driver comfort and reduces
the load on air conditioning."
He cites three other factors that car owners might
consider when weighing the advantages of window
tinting.
"For one thing, there's the'matter of security," he
says. "Window tint can help maintain the privacy
and integrity of the vehicle; and its contents, espe-
cially when it is left unattended."
Because it is applied to
interior glass surfaces,
window tint helps reduce
flying glass shards in the
event of an accident, be
adds.
"Prolonged exposure to
harmful ultra -violet rays
causes interior fabrics,
like upholstery and car-
peting, to fade and deteriorate prematurely," he
states. "That's a major consideration for investment -
conscious car owners looking ahead to selling or
trading -in their vehicles."
Spring rule of the road:
Take note of rn.btoyclists
For the motorcycle enthusiast,
spring means it's time to return to
the open road. Before motorcyclists
don their helmets, both motorists
and motorcyclists brush up on road
safety.
When springtime comes and tem-
peratures rise, drivels are not al-
ways aware of the increased num-
bers of motorcycles on the road.
Statistics show that approximate-
ly 60 percent of all motorcycle ac-
cidents are a result of a collision
with anothp;moving vehicle.
To help make travel safer for eve-
ryone here are some tips for auto-
mobile drivers and motorcyclists.:
• Before wining or changing
lanes, always do a "head -check" -
never rely on just your mirror.
• Always use your turn signal,
.whether or not you can see other
Waffle.
• Get into the habit of expecting
Io see motorcycles on the road.
• Give motorcycles an entire lane.
• Remember that motorcyclists
handle- adverse road conditions
(weather, obstacles, etc.) much dif-
ferently than motorists. Give them
the necesary space to slow down or
avoid potential road hazards.
The Motorcycle Safety Founda-
tion recommends a simple system
for motorists and motorcyclists to
help them share the road. The SIP -
DE system (scan, identify, predict,
decide and execute) encourages
drivers and motorcyclists to con-
stantly scan the road for potential
trouble spots.
Once accustomed to scanning
ahead, looking for hazards becomes
nearly auttmtatic, and the road be-
comes a safer place for motorists
and motorcyclists alike. The SIPDE
system trains drivers and riders to
make judgements and take action
without hesitation.
Motorists tend to treat motorcy-
cles in the same way they treat bicy-
cles because they appear to be the
same size. An automobile driver
may look right at a motorcyclist, but
will not react the way he would if
confronted by another automobile.
Motorists need to realize that motor-
cycles require and deserve just as
much space as automobiles.
Rob Dale
Motors
Hwy. #4 - Centralia
228-6810
Sales & Service
For all your Spring and
Summer Car Care...
• Quality Pre -owned
Vehicles
• Electronic Tune-ups
• Electronic Diagnostic
Testing
• Brakes
• Wheel Alignments
• Safety inspections for
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• Walker Exhaust
Dealer
• Competitive Labour
Rates
• Quality Service for all
Makes and Models of
Vehicles
, Rsck'Fratre2 ,
"EX ETE R TOYOTA]
'EarlyBird'
242 Main Street North, Exeter, Ontario NOM LW
(519) 235-2353
Service Specials
ds
AIR CONDITIONING SPECIAL
For efficient and satisfactory
performance in hot weather 95
The following air conditioning
spring tune-up is suggested for parts extra
only
1. Clean intake filter
2. Clean condersor lines
3. Pressure test system
- instal gauge unit
4. Adjust drive belt tension
5. Check anti freeze/coolant
6. Tighten compressor mount-
ingand check clutch operation
7ighten condensor and
evaporator mounting and
check proper hose and pipe rout-
ing.
8. Inspect system for leaks (hos-
es, couplings and valves, etc.)
Rt 2 leak defection done with elec-
tronic leak detector.
9. Test heater and A/C dash con-
trols and electrical circuits
10. Top up system if no problems
are found - price includes up to
two lbs. of Freeon
* Environment friendly,
we recycle Freeon
Now Is the time to find out If you will keep coot all summer long.
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up to 4 Litres of!
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APPROVED Au r0
REPAIR SERVICES
Spring
Tune up Special
4 t yi. $44.95
6cyi. $59.95
V6 or le $69.95
• Thermo contrOlesl oar cleaner
check • Engine idle speed adjust-
ment • Early fuel evaporation sys-
tem check • Carburetor or throttle
body mounting torque check
• Fuel filter replacement • Idle
stop solenoid and/or dashpot
check • Spark plug replacement
• Engine timing adjustment, dis-
tributor and mechanical/vacuum
advance check • PCV valve and
filter elements replacement
• Evaporation control system
check, and filter replacement.
Parts extra.
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