Is Your Car Coolant Being Exhausted Abnormally?

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How to Improve Your Car

Welcome to my new auto blog. My name is Kevin. I am 48 years old and I live with my family in Alice Spring, Australia. Living so far out in the middle of nowhere means that you need a car to get around. I have been driving cars since I was 17 and I used to spend hours hanging out at the local auto repair shop. During those long summer afternoons, I learnt all about how a car works, how to repair the different components and systems, and how to accessories a vehicle so it looks cool. I hope you enjoy my blog.

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Is Your Car Coolant Being Exhausted Abnormally?

20 January 2017
 Categories: Automotive, Blog


Are you topping up your coolant more than usual? If this is the case, then your radiator system has a problem. To address the issue and manage running costs, you have two options. The first and easy way out involves taking your car to a dealership for inspection and repair. However, this approach is more costly. A dealer is in the business of making profit. For example, you might end up replacing an entire radiator unit because of a small fault. The second option is DIY. With proper direction, a car owner can troubleshoot and fix the coolant issue. This article looks at possible reasons why your coolant is drying up quickly and offers correction tips.

Leakage in Radiator Tubes -- The cooling tubes in your car radiator can be punctured for one reason or another. In such a case, the coolant escapes through the tubes and gets depleted from the reservoir quickly. To remedy the issue, you first need to inspect the radiator for signs of leakage. Most coolants are colored; therefore, it is easy to spot leaks. Finally, you ought to seal the punctured sections by applying a special compound material.

Loose Pipe Connection -- A radiator is attached to an engine at two points, that is, the inlet and outlet. If the two main radiator pipes are not airtight at the inlet and outlet, then the coolant can ooze out slowly. For a firm connection, most cars include clips. Therefore, always check for signs of leakage at these two points before taking your car to dealer. You can replace the clips if the connection is not strong enough.

Malfunctioned Radiator Cap -- A faulty radiator cap will interfere with coolant pressure metrics. For example, pressure buildup will allow some coolant to escape in form of steam. If the cap is not fixed early enough a considerable amount of coolant can disappear this way. Replacing a radiator cap requires no technical know-how. You just need to carry the faulty one as a sample.

Faulty Engine Temperature Sensors -- If your engine has faulty temperature sensors, chances are that it will overheat. Increased heat results in inefficient cooling of the engine. Consequently, more of your coolant will be required to keep the engine running at optimal conditions. Your dashboard will give prompts regarding faulty sensors. Unfortunately, you cannot do a DIY sensor installation. You can only troubleshoot and approach a dealer or mechanic to do the actual installation.