The cooling system in your car or truck is designed to keep your engine at the optimal temperature for the best performance. It does this by circulating a coolant, also called antifreeze, mixed with water through the engine and transferring the heat generated by the engine to the radiator, where it is cooled. Coolant/antifreeze also keeps the water in the system from freezing in cold climates. Coolant/antifreeze is specially formulated to both increase the boiling point and reduce the freezing point of the water with which it is mixed.
When a car overheats, it is because there is a problem with the cooling system. One of the most common problems that causes overheating is a low coolant level. If there is not an adequate amount of coolant circulating through the engine, it causes heat to build up. You can make sure your auto has the correct amount of coolant in the system by regularly checking the overflow reservoir. The reservoir contains markings or notches, which will indicate how much coolant needs to be added. [Read more…]
