Jul 2011 13

Staying Cool on the Road – Some Cool Cooling System Advice from Coastal Nissan of Boston

At Boston Nissan, we know better than anyone that there is nothing more frustrating than an overheating car. Overheating is usually, though not always, a condition in older vehicles, and it is a symptom of something else that is going wrong. Your car should not start to overheat just because it is hot out and you hit traffic. The fix may be simple, or it may be huge, but, whatever the case may be, address it quickly. Do not allow your car to overheat! Overheating can ruin an otherwise sound engine very quickly. If your car is running too close to the hot line for comfort, here are some simple things that you might check out.

Radiator Cap – This is the simplest and the most usual fix for an overheating car. Radiator caps are made to wear out, and most drivers forget to check them on a regular basis. When the car is cool, take off the radiator cap and look at the rubber – if it is cracked or receding from the edge, get a new one. Be sure to get an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) radiator cap that is made to fit your vehicle correctly. If you are getting one for your Nissan, give our parts department a call – we will either have it or can order it for you.

Hoses – Your cooling system relies on several rubber hoses to move water about the engine. Check the hoses for bulges and leaks, and check the clamp rings at the ends to make sure that they are tightened sufficiently.

Radiator Fluid – Car engines are made to run with a high percentage of coolant in them. If you have topped your car off with water, you may have diluted the coolant to water ratio. There are easy-to-use, inexpensive coolant test kits available at your local auto-parts store, or bring it by our shop and we will be glad to test it for you.