Warning Signs of Low Car Coolant
Before your engine starts overheating or cuts out, there are several indicators that will signal towards a malfunctioning cooling system.
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- Rising Temperature Gauge Inclining Towards Red
- Heater Not Working or Supplying Hot Air
- Poor Fuel Economy
- A Sweet Smell
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1. Closer Look at Your Engine
2. What if Your Car Runs Out of Coolant?
3. Warning Signs of Low Car Coolant
4. AAMCO Can Help!
5. More From Our Blog
Your coolant is probably the most important fluid under your hood. Without it, your engine wouldn’t run for a few minutes without suffering irreparable damage or a catastrophic breakdown.
Taking a Closer Look at Your Engine
Your vehicle’s engine is a remarkable machine. The metal shell that encapsulates each piston is designed to contain thousands of small explosions every minute. This throng of explosions generate a ton of heat that can cause significant wear and damage to your engine.
Your vehicle’s cooling system’s primary role is to dispel this heat. It uses coolant to absorb heat from your engine and dissipate it via the radiator. It’s also expelled through the heat exchanger in the passenger compartment when you crank your heat during cold weather. Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is a mixture of propylene glycol or ethylene and water.
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What Happens If Your Car Runs Out of Coolant?
Antifreeze or coolant circulates through the entire engine to prevent overheating. If you drive with low coolant, you’re likely to experience the following:
Dashboard warning light or rising temperature gauge.
The initial sign that your car is low on coolant is a dashboard warning light or a surging temperature gauge.
Automatic engine cut-off.
Your vehicle may have this feature. This is intended to avert damage when your engine starts overheating due to lack of coolant. You won’t be able to continue driving until your engine has cooled down.
Damage to engine parts.
In case your vehicle doesn’t have a cut-off feature and you continue driving, you risk massive damage to your engine. This may not only result in a hefty repair bill, but you may need an entirely new one.
Other signs of low coolant.
Apart from engine issues, you may notice billowing steam, an excessively hot bonnet, and no control over your interior heating system.
Keeping Your Vehicle Cool
AAMCO Colorado’s team of expert mechanics are licensed, trained, experienced, and certified. You can trust us to help you with your radiator and cooling system and save you time.
What are The Warning Signs of Low Car Coolant?
Before your engine starts overheating or cuts out, there are several indicators that will signal towards a malfunctioning cooling system.
1. Rising Temperature Gauge Inclining Towards Red
After driving your car for some time, you become familiar with the position of your temperature gauge when everything’s okay. If it starts inclining towards red, this is one of the key indicators that something’s wrong with your cooling system. If you notice this when driving, pull over, and open the hood. This will help cool the engine and allow you to start diagnosing the problem.
2. Heater Not Working or Supplying Hot Air
Your car’s heater utilizes the residual heat generated by your engine. In the event of a cooling system malfunction, you may experience problems with your internal heating system. This can be a constant flow of hot air or a complete lack of heat and a warning that something’s wrong with your cooling system.
3. Poor Fuel Economy
If your engine is running at optimum temperature, fuel will burn efficiently hence keeping consumption low. However, as temperatures increase, you will experience poor fuel economy and increased emissions.
4. A Sweet Smell
Coolant has a distinct sweet smell. If it leaks due to high temperatures, you may smell it in the cabin. Being aware of this smell can help you diagnose a cooling system problem before you incur significant damage.
AAMCO Colorado for Your Cooling Needs
Unlike engine oil, which requires regular change, you don’t need to inspect and replace your coolant as often. Since coolant works in a closed system, it shouldn’t run low unless there’s a leak. If this happens, you should immediately book an appointment with AAMCO Colorado for car coolant replacement or radiator system repair. If you suspect that your car is low on coolant, visit AAMCO Colorado for a comprehensive inspection.
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