Chill out on the road astheheatrises

Brian Turner offers tips to keep your radiator and cooling system in top form.

Fortunately for many of us, automotive cooling systems have come a long way in terms of reliability, durability and reduced maintenance needs. Senior drivers can easily recall the rituals involving regular coolant changes and seasonal thermostat replacements, along with multiple fan belt and hose replacements demanded over the life of the auto.

Today it’s rare for most vehicles to ever need a coolant hose change; serpentine drive belts seem to last five years or more on average and long-life coolants with flush schedules enduring up to 10 years are common. So, in preparation for a summer of hot-hauling family and vacation gear, what do we really have to worry about?

When you consider that many engines are constructed with a ton of light-weight alloys and fuel-economy targets have reduced most cooling system components to the bare minimum, the slightest amount of overheating can lead to some stratospheric bills. In modern vehicles, by the time the temperature warning light comes on or gauge peaks into the red zone, you might as well reach for the wallet, because the results won’t be pretty. So, what can you do?

First, avoid overloading. Remember if you’re towing a trailer, its tongue weight (the downward force on the hitch ball) must be included when factoring in the maximum cargo capacity of the vehicle, including passengers. And transferring gear to the trailer really doesn’t reduce the load on the vehicle’s drivetrain.

Get a seasonal checkup. This might be a no brainer but it can save a lot of roadside grief. Don’t be shy about asking your shop to pay particular attention to the cooling system to ensure everything gets a good once-over inspection. Coolant should be inspected for not only clarity but for concentration strength. The right dilution not only protects against freezing, it also improves the liquid’s ability to dissipate heat.

You can do your own underthe-hood check before you head out. Check the drive-belt(s) for any fraying, excessive glazing or cracking (for the latter you’ll need to get a look at the underside of the belt). With the engine completely cooled down, squeeze and inspect all the coolant hoses for any surface weather-cracks and the clamps for any corrosion.

Many automakers use wire clamps and these fail easily when rusted. Checking the radiator’s conditions can be a little problematic on many vehicles due to the air conditioning condenser being mounted directly in front and the amount of plastic covers on top. Checking it from underneath is best (using a smartphone camera mounted on a selfie-stick is a great hack).

Look for any excessive buildup of debris in the fins on the leading edges of both the radiator and condenser. This can reduce air flow and therefore heatexchange capability. A garden hose under medium pressure applied from the back of the radiator aimed forward can eliminate a lot of this coolingrobbing gunk.

If you do run into an overheating situation on the road, immediately switch the interior HVAC system to full heat and top fan speed to slow down the temp rising, and head to the side of the road as soon as safely possible.