WHEN A _ cooling system
fails, the engine overheats.
And when a car overheats
for very long, meta! engine
parts can be serious. dam-
aged and require expensive
repair.

Overheating can result when the
coolant level is too low or when
there is a feak in the system.
Sometimes just driving in stop-
and-go waffic on a het summer
day with the air conditioner runn-
ing is enough to overheat the
engine.

Coolant loss
A low coolant level leads to

overheatirig because thcre isn’t
enough fluid in the system to ab-

Friday, June 26, 1992 — North Shore News - 45

AUTOMOTIVE
Be sure to check cooling system regularly

Jonnd om some
coulants, under the assumption
they lubricate the water pump.
Most modern antifreeze solutions
contain all the lubricants a water
pump needs. Soluble oil only
serves to destroy a hose before its
time.

All cooling system hoses should
be inspected every six, months,
Most often, the upper radiator
hose and the curved bypass hose
will fail without) warning. But
eventually, they all will need to be
replaced.

Replace the cooling system
hoses roughly every four years.

soluble oils

Water pump leaks

ft is common to find an occa-
sional drop of coolant under the

water pump. Excessive leaking.
however, indicates a problem.
Housing bolts on the pump should
be tight. Hf they are, and leaking
Persists, the pump's miner seal is
probably damaged and the pump
must be replaced.

Radiator lesks

Radiator leaks are often just the
result of a louse petcock or plug.
Simple tightening stiould correct
this.

The inner seal on the radiator
cap should) be checked — period-
ically. If the seal is cracked, or the
metal parts are rusted, coolant
will escape and the cap will fail to
pressurize the remaining coolant
adequately.

White stains on

the radiator

block wherever there is a bolted
housing, such ay at che thermostat
of water pump housing.

You should also inspect the
block’s drain plugs and core plugs
(abo Known as freeze plugs). Core
plugs are holes teft in the engine

point to a Mere serious problem.
These stains result: trom cookint
reacting with the inetaly parts.
Pourine a Gquid) sealant in) the
radiator might solve the problem,
but chanees are good that) the
radiator needs to be repaired or
replaced. This is frequently the oo when it is cast and later covered
case with many of today’s alumi- by metal dises. Ef these dises
num radiators, loosen or corrode, coolant can
escape from the block.

Hf leaking continues after you've
checked all the hoses, clamp con-
nections and metal components of
the cooling system, the leak is
probably internal.

Heater leaks

Leaks can occur in the heater
control valve or in the heater core.
A liquid sealant: can sometimes
help but, more often than not, the
heating system units will have to
be replaced.

This situation can be confirmed
by the presence of engine oil in
the coolant, in the exhaust system,
or transmission fluid. A visually
inspected sample of the coolant
will reveal the presence of oil.

Engine leaks

Leaks can occur on the engine

sorb engine heat. The air in the
system that is absorbing these high
temperatures is a poor heat con-
ductor and won't do an effective
job of transferring the heat to the
radiator. .

Cars with coolant recovery
tanks have markings on the white
plastic tank indicating where
coolant levels should be when the
car is running and whe it’s not.
if the coolant level is tow after.
repeated fillings, you probably
have a leak in the systen..

Coolant hose leaks

Hoses are the most likely source
of leaks because they are structu-
rally the weakest components of
the cooling system. Hoses must be
flexible to absorb vibration, so
they are made of rubber com-
pounds. Rubber, unfortunately, is
not as durable as metal.

Intense engine heat can harden
and crack even the best subber; oil
can soften and swell it, the simple
passage of time can k down
its internal bonding; and elec-
trochemical degradation can crack
the tube.

in many instances,
occur at faulty connec:
inlet and ourlet pipes. “fake cer-
tain the hose clanips ar u secure.

When replacing 2 he . it's also
a good idea to replace 2 clamps.
Traditional worm-drive siamps or
the new conStant tenses: clamps
are best.

To extend the seni. Ife of a
hose, keep it away fron: damuging
external elements suca as hot
manifolds, «il-leaking parts and
sharp edges. In thesc situations,
protect the hose with a --eve.

You should ulso avoid using the

15

lent value credit on the 1992 Mazda 323.

nose leaks
ns to the

" Notthdhore Me service 6 now open from 8:00
Monday thru Saturdey,
We're offering 2 Great Evoning Specicts
“Book ‘oher $:00 p.m. to qualify.’

“OIL & FILTER | TUNE-UP

Includes: 2 2 z Salt PART $ Ag"

4-Litres oil PARTS
& Oil Filter Most Mazda

Summer
programs
under way

REGISTRATION FOR -:ore than
150 Greater Nancouvs Regional
District (GVRD) sure aer | pro-
grams isunds: way.

Nature workshops * 5
canoeing programs
Lake, family weet end
programs, and dozen ' custom
designed c! ¢ sre pro-
grains will be offered .oughout
16 Regional }

GVRD Po.
and Do {.
brochures aie
Regional Pars... focal §
municipal + :
branches, and from de
4330) Kings.
receive one by mail, cit! .

Registration hours a+ noon to
6 p.m., Monday to Freasy (except
holidays), The registraron number
is 432-6359.

1992 MPV EX

lnduces: V6 engine, cutomatic trans., AM/FM, 6 speaker cassette,
windows, power locks, cruise control, privacy glass, 15"

aluminum wheels, 7 passenger seating, rear ABS brakes, rear

, heater and much more.

| STARTING FROM

adults,
Burnaby
t Vedas
! bohday Net of all Mazda ¢ 9 ond factory concessions
Freight ord P.D.1 $350 each

vaet Out
program
stom. all
vies and
Vanity
th floor,

1992 MAZDA 323
STARTING FROM