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Signs Your Car Needs A Coolant Flush

Car owners, many times, do not pay attention to the importance of a radiator flush. There are many reasons for that. One is that they do not know the signs that their cars need a coolant flush.

This eye-opening post highlights some signs your car needs a coolant flush.

This article discusses what a coolant flush is, the indicators that a radiator flush is needed, and how often to do the flush.

What  Is a Coolant Flush

A coolant flush is a cooling maintenance service for your vehicle’s cooling system. The service eliminates dirt, old coolant, debris, and sludge from your car’s cooling system. This process empties all the used coolant material from your radiator and replaces it with fresh coolant.

This maintenance procedure usually involves the application of a chemical to the cooling system for the removal of accumulated debris. A machine is then applied to push the fluid through the cooling system at the same speed it would operate if the engine were running. The fluid is thoroughly flushed out to remove particles and debris that could impede the optimal operation of your car.

Signs Your Car Needs a Coolant Flush

signs your car needs a coolant flush

Coolants in your vehicle’s cooling system play a vital role in the maintenance of heat balance for the engine of your car. Existing engine problems can be aggravated if the vehicle’s engine suffers from heat imbalance. And this disproportion of heat balance is usually caused by the built-up debris and rust particles in your vehicle’s cooling system.

Below are a few signs to alert you when your car needs a coolant flush:

Low Coolant Level

Coolants maintain the heat balance of your vehicle by keeping the temperature of your vehicle’s engine cool while you’re keeping it running. Also known as antifreeze, it helps your car avoid overheating by providing lubricants to the water pump on your vehicle.

It is necessary that you check the coolant level of your vehicle often. You can do this by comparing the fluid level against the edge mark on your tank. Ensure that your engine is cold whenever you carry out this inspection. A low coolant level is an indication that the radiator’s performance is compromised. If you notice that the level is too low, that is a sign that you need a coolant flush.

Overheating and High-Temperature Gauge

The most notorious sign that you need a coolant flush is overheating and a high-temperature gauge. The cooling system of your vehicle greatly depends on the coolant to keep your engine cool and running smooth.

A high-temperature gauge is usually an indication that your cooling system is not keeping the engine cool. You can pay attention to the engine temperature register on your dashboard to notice whether it is running in the heat zone.

If the temperature gauge reads high, that’s a sure sign that your car is overheating. This would mean that there is a problem with your coolant system. It would help if you had a flush.

Do not open the radiator cap while the engine is running or hot. It would be best to rest the car and wait for it to cool before opening it. If you open the radiator cap while the engine is still hot, the coolant can splash out violently and burn your face and hand.

Smelling/Smoking From the Engine

It is normal for your automobile to release white smoke from its exhaust pipe, sometimes after you put the car on. Condensation could build up in your car’s exhaust system, which is steamed with the heat going out of your exhaust pipe to create white smoke when you start the car.

Usually, it clears off in a few minutes after you have kept the car running for a while.

But if you observe that the smoke is thick, excessive, and has been coming out for too long, it is an indication of a possible coolant leak. Internal coolant leaks can contaminate the engine oil. When leaking coolants make it to the combustion chamber, you can expect white smoke to come out from your exhaust pipes, even when the leak is insignificant.

The underlying cause is a cracked cylinder head which ultimately allows the leaking coolants to trickle a cylinder head or more. Although a coolant flush will be necessary, it will only solve half of the problem.

You may also experience a sweet scent from the engine bay. This is another confirmatory sign that your coolant system needs a flush. The sweet smell comes from ethylene glycol, an organic compound used in the production of antifreeze. Without exposure to the coolant from a ruptured hose or old hose, you wouldn’t encounter the smell.

Leaking Coolant From the Cooling System

Noticing leaking coolant fluids from the cooling system is a conspicuous sign that your vehicle needs coolant flush. Notice the color of the fluid. Leaking black fluid suggests engine oil leaks from the engine. A red fluid leak suggests a transmission oil leak. But if the leaking liquid is green, orange, pink, or yellow, it means the antifreeze is leaking.

To detect what kind of leak it is, you may have to follow the small black hose running in your radiator.

Grinding or Knocking Engine Noise

A grinding or knocking engine noise could also signify a problem with your coolant system. Usually, the water pump distributes the antifreeze through the engine block and the radiator. This helps regulate the heat and maintain a stable temperature to avoid engine overheating in your vehicle.

If you experience a grinding or knocking engine sound, these sounds often come from the coolant reservoir or through faulty hoses. You may want to change the faulty hoses in addition to a coolant flush.

How Often to Flush the Radiator

There are various opinions about how often you should flush your radiator. While some experts argue that you should flush the radiator every three years, others argue that you should flush it every year.

However, there is a consensus that if your vehicle is new and has not gone more than 10,000 miles, there is no need to do a radiator flush until at least twelve months.

It would be best to flush your radiator every 30,000 miles. If the manufacturer gives a recommendation, it would be best to heed the recommended schedule in the manual.

Conclusion

Flushing your radiator is a very important maintenance routine. It can help you avoid expensive repair bills to correct problems associated with overheating engines. It is best to hire an expert to handle it if you cannot do it yourself.

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