Services

Cooling Systems

Vehicles operate in a wide variety of temperatures, from well below freezing to well over 100 F (38 C). So whatever fluid is used to cool the engine has to have a very low freezing point, a high boiling point, and it has to have the capacity to retain a huge amount of heat.

The fluid that most cars use is a mixture of water and ethylene glycol (C2H6O2), also known as antifreeze. By adding ethylene glycol to water, the boiling and freezing points are improved significantly. The temperature of the coolant can sometimes reach 250 to 275 F (121 to 135 C). Even with ethylene glycol added, these temperatures would boil the coolant, so something additional must be done to raise its boiling point.

The cooling system uses pressure to further raise the boiling point of the coolant. Most cars have a pressure limit of 14 to 15 pounds per square inch (psi), which raises the boiling point another 45 F (25 C) so the coolant can withstand the high temperatures.

Common Problems

When the colder months approach, there are several things considered critical in your vehicle's maintenance. Since the engine is the heart of your vehicle and directly affects its operation, here is what you can do to ensure proper engine life and performance. A vehicle's cooling system should be checked, if need be seasonally, to prevent premature engine wear due to extreme climate or engine temperature.

Scheduled Maintenance

We perform a few basic preventive maintenance checks during your next routine servicing:

• Check for external leaks
• Check for internal leaks
• Check the radiator
• Check the cooling fan
• Check drive belts
• Check heater operation

Air Conditioning

Since the advent of automotive air conditioning in the 1940's, it has undergone extensive changes. Improvements such as computerized auto-temp control, and improvements to overall durability, have added complexity to today's modern A/C system.

Tough environmental regulations govern the very simplest of tasks, like recharging a system with R12 refrigerant, commonly referred to as Freon®. Extensive scientific studies have proven the damaging effects of this refrigerant has on the ozone layer.

Now more than ever, automotive technicians are at the mercy of this environmental legislation. Not only are we required to be certified to purchase refrigerant and repair your air conditioner, our shop must also incur the cost of purchasing expensive dedicated equipment that insures the capture of these ozone depleting chemicals, should the system need to be opened up for repair.

*Freon is the trade name for the refrigerant R-12, manufactured by Dupont Chemical.

Common Problems

• Lack of cooling
• Odor
• Noise