Beat the Heat: When to Replace Your Antifreeze Coolant

Vehicle maintenance can be easy to neglect because life can get busy! However, it’s important to pay attention to your car’s maintenance, especially in summer when the temperatures get dangerously hot.

Your car’s cooling system is properly functioning when antifreeze, or coolant, is circulating through the engine and radiator. This circulation helps to reduce heat levels produced by your car’s engine. Radiator fluid is just as important in cold temperatures as it is in hot weather. Its circulation keeps the engine block from freezing when your car is in park or overheating when it is running. Without routine maintenance and check-ups, the temperature of your vehicle’s engine can get hot enough to damage itself.

Some warning signs that your vehicle might need antifreeze or coolant flush are as follows:

·      Temperature gauge fluctuates between normal and hot

·      Antifreeze/coolant pooling under vehicle

·      Grinding sounds coming from engine area

·      Visible rust and/or scaling in the antifreeze/coolant

·      Steam and/or hot maple syrup-like smell coming from under the hood

Periodically changing the radiator fluid in your car can help to keep it fully functional. Over time, contaminants can build up in the coolant, making it much less effective. How often you should get your radiator fluid changed depends on how many miles you put on your car every year. Most car manufacturers agree that every 24 to 36 months is a suitable timeframe for radiator fluid changes.

Jiffy Lube offers coolant services that begin with a full examination of your radiator and engine cooling system. Technicians then replace the old antifreeze/coolant with new antifreeze/coolant that your vehicle manufacturer recommends. Don’t wait until your car overheats on the highway! Schedule your coolant service at your local Jiffy Lube today. Click here to find a location near you.