Preparing for Warmer Weather: Should the Auto Repair Shop Change My Engine Coolant?

Summer is right around the corner, and as the weather warms up, you will need to make sure that your car’s engine is ready for the heat. When it gets hot outside, your cooling system is what prevents your engine from overheating. Your auto repair technician can help you make sure that your cooling system is ready for summer. Let’s take a closer look at how to prepare your engine coolant for warmer weather:

Different Types of Coolant If you have ever visited the auto part store and looked at the coolant selection, you know that there are several different types of coolant to choose from. Each coolant variety comes colored with a dye so that they can be easily distinguished from one another. Each color corresponds to a special type of corrosion inhibitor that will work only in one type of engine. Your mechanic will be able to tell you what type of coolant your engine takes when you go in for a repair.

Finding the Proper Mix When coolant is added to your radiator, it is typically mixed with water. For optimal radiator performance in all driving conditions, a 50/50 mix of coolant/water is recommended. Water will cool your radiator faster, but it has a lower boiling point than coolant. By mixing coolant and water, you get the cooling benefits of water with the stable, anti-corrosive properties of coolant.

Adding Coolant for Warmer Weather During warmer weather, there is a greater chance that your engine will overheat in the hotter temperatures. To prepare for hot weather driving, use the same coolant in your engine but increase the coolant/water ratio to 60/40. By adding less water and increasing your coolant, you will prevent your engine from overheating in hot temperatures .

For help preparing your vehicle for hot weather driving, make an appointment at Casey Automotive. Our auto repair locations are conveniently placed to serve the Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, and Prospect Heights areas. Call us at (866) 709-3522 to learn more about the services offered at our expert car repair facilities.