Staying Cool

A car's cooling system plays a vital role in keeping your car in road-worthy condition. The reason: a car engine needs to be in optimum working temperature in order to work efficiently. At present, there are 2 types of cooling systems in use:

1. Air-cooled system
   Pros: Easy maintenance. No worries about leaks or forgetting to fill the radiator
   Cons: Very noisy.
2. Liquid-cooled system (the most common). Maintaining a liquid-cooled system requires a lot of work, as the user must check the coolant levels regularly. This is even more important in our climate as Malaysian hot weather tends to put more demands on the cooling system. To be safe, always check the
   thermometer meter when you are on the road.

The surest sign of cooling system failure is a fast rising temperature and the consequences will be costly if you continue driving because the engine will overheat and seize.

Common causes of engine overheat:

1. Negligence
   This simply means that the driver has forgotten to check the liquid coolant level before starting off on a long journey.
   Prevention: Easy regular maintenance procedures.
   
2. Radiator Puncture
   The radiator is not exactly a hardy product and can easily be punctured by rocks, stones or even branches that strike your car as you drive. If you are faced with a radiator puncture, do not attempt to drive off for help. The pressure that occurs in the cooling system while the engine is running will cause the liquids to leak and evaporate faster. This will aggravate the problem. It would be advisable to call for help, and have the car towed to the workshop.
   
3. Water pump failure
   This is another common cause of engine overheat. Rubber parts within a car will fail in time. This includes the rubber hose that connects your car's radiator to the engine. It should be regularly checked for breaks, tears or cracks. Tiny cracks are often the first,.indication that the hose needs to be changed. You should always replace the rubber hose at the first signs of cracking, instead of waiting for the hose to spring a leak. Replacing a rubber hose is a simple job that can be done whenever the car is in the workshop for its regular maintenance service.
   At the same time, other rubber parts such as the rubber seal on the radiator cap should also be checked. A leaking radiator cap should be replaced with an original manufacturer's product. This is important because the radiator works in a highly pressurized state. If the pressure is not held with the correct radiator cap, it will continue to leak and you will be faced with recurring cooling problems.
   
4. Electric Fan Failure
   Another common cause of engine overheat is when the electric fan motor which cools the radiator fails. Like all mechanical parts, it will fail. The only solution is to have it replaced. Mechanical and parts problems like radiator puncture, water pump failure and electric fan failure are very much beyond the driver's control. What you can actively do to avoid any unexpected breakdown caused by a malfunction in your car's cooling system is to ensure that the coolant level is adequate. As always, stick to your car's maintenance schedule and be vigilant about the state of the rubber hoses and seals within the cooling system. It is always a good idea to ask your mechanic to include a check on the cooling system as part of his service.