Is your vehicle's coolant system ready for summer?

Whether you call it engine coolant or antifreeze, the fluid in your radiator multi-tasks, circulating throughout your engine block and keeping the works running smooth.

What Is Coolant?

Generally, coolant is a half-and-half mixture of a form of glycol and water. The glycol represents the antifreeze element of the mix, guaranteeing that the fluid doesn't turn into ice under harsh winter conditions. Glycol also prevents the coolant from reaching the engine’s boiling point in high summer heat; it keeps engine temperatures stable under all climate extremes and driving conditions.

Coolant/antifreeze also includes additional additives that prevent rust and corrosion in the radiator, engine and the vehicle's heater.

Like any other engine fluid, the coolant needs to be checked on a regular basis. You're checking for two things: quantity and condition. Since the 1970s, most vehicles have a coolant recovery tank or overflow reservoir, which makes checking the fluid level a lot easier and safer. The configuration of the radiator and tank/reservoir lets hot coolant expand into the tank as the engine temperature rises. When the engine cools down, a slight vacuum forms in the radiator and the fluid is drawn out of the tank/reservoir and back into the radiator. As long as the radiator cap remains sealed, the coolant can expand and contract without losing a drop.

Is your vehicle's air conditioning ready for summer?

As we leave winter behind and head into spring now is the time to look at a preparing your vehicle for those long summer road trips. Your vehicle’s Air Conditioning System is a vitally important componant and as part of your HVAC system (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) it is designed to perform three things:

1. Remove Heat
2. Remove Moisture
3. Filter the Air in the Cabin

Your vehicles air conditioning is essential in helping to keep you alert during long road journeys by providing you with a more cool and comfortable environment to drive in. Having vehicle air conditioning used to be considered a luxury, but now the majority of vehicles have it as standard.

EXTREME HEAT ADVICE FROM CURRY'S AUTO SERVICE

Advice for keeping YOU and your vehicle cool and on the road!


Over the next few days Northern Virginia, Maryland and the DC Metro area are under extreme weather warnings with temperatures likely to exceed the 100 degree mark so we wanted to share some advice that should help all of us to keep moving in these adverse conditions:

• Pack a travel kit that includes plenty of water and a well charged cell phone for emergency calls. Even a short trip in extreme heat carries many of the same risks that come with longer trips in hot weather.
• Check fluids. Check to be sure that your coolant levels, plus other fluid levels such as motor oil, transmission fluid, and brake fluid levels are full - but do not overfill fluids. Also remember to check belts and hoses for signs of excessive wear.
• Check your tires. Before operating your vehicle in extreme heat, check the condition of your tires and be sure tire air pressure is set at the manufacturer's recommended level.
• Maintain your vehicle. Have a trained, qualified mechanic check your car and perform preventive maintenance.
• Keep checking your lights and gauges. Even if your fluid levels and tires were fine before you left, problems can develop quickly while you are driving.
• Don't idle for long. Avoid leaving your engine running without moving, except for routine and brief delays, such as waiting at red lights.
• Watch your engine temp. If your engine temperature begins to rise outside the normal range, approaching overheating, you might be able to reduce the load on your engine and help remove excessive heat by turning off the air conditioning and turning on your heater. This would rapidly make your vehicle too uncomfortable to tolerate for very long, but it could save your engine from overheating. If your temperature gauge does reach the red zone or an engine temperature warning light comes on, do not continue to drive. As soon as it can be safely accomplished, the driver needs to get the vehicle off the roadway, the further from traffic the better. Severe engine damage can result from overheating.
• Don't get burned. If your vehicle does overheat, do not attempt to remove the radiator cap. Extremely hot and pressurized coolant can spray out violently, potentially causing severe burns. Also, do not pour water over a hot radiator or engine, as sudden, extreme changes in temperature can also cause engine damage.
• Remember to care for yourself, not just your car. In extremely hot weather, it's not just your car that needs special attention - it's you and your passengers as well. Take regular breaks on long drives and stay hydrated.
• Follow the rules of the road. Speeding always carries risks, but during extremely hot weather, driving at high speeds places particularly high demands on your vehicle's tires and mechanical components.
• If your vehicle overheats or breaks down on the side of the road and you choose to exit the vehicle, move to a safe location away from traffic. Standing near the roadway can create a dangerous situation for you and other motorists.
• When thinking about safe driving in extreme heat, do not overlook the potentially deadly threat of heat in a parked car. Never leave a child unattended in a parked car, and never leave a pet in a parked car in hot weather.

We hope this goes some way to helping you stay safe and on the road, if for any reason you do need roadside assistance remember as a Curry's customer you can dial 1-888-8CURRYS for assistance and local towing services.