Car Maintenance

When diagnosing a coolant leak on your Ford Ranger the best possible scenario will be a busted radiator hose. The worst possible scenario is of course a blown head gasket. When troubleshooting...

To extend vehicle life over 200,000 miles, ConsumerReports.org suggests, "Buy a car that has performed well in government and insurance-industry safety tests and has the latest safety equipment."...

The thermostat in an Xterra controls the flow and temperature of your engine coolant. If your SUV takes a long time to warm up, or if it overheats frequently---monitor the temperature gauge in...

The thermostat is located in the water jacket near the output side of the radiator on most cars. The Buick V6 and V8 engines use a housing on the top front of the motor that directs coolant from...

The Chevy S-10 has been around for many years and has featured a few different engines, including both four- and six-cylinders. The procedure to change the coolant remains fairly universal...

Your car's temperature gauge is a diagnostic tool for you as a driver. If it shows high temperatures while driving normally, your car may have a problem with running hot. A car that runs hot is at...

The coolant return hose on your vehicle connects the water pump and the radiator. The hose allows the pump to force low-temperature coolant from the radiator into the engine to keep it from...

The thermostat in your Nissan Frontier is required to regulate the flow of coolant through your motor. The thermostat will send enough coolant through the motor to keep the engine running...

A radiator keeps the engine cool and operating smoothly. Without the radiator the engine would overheat and seize up. Leaks in the radiator should be addressed as soon as possible. Quick fixes are...

The automotive thermostat is a controlled on and off valve. When the temperature of the vehicle gets higher, the thermostat will allow the flow of coolant throughout your motor. This will keep...

GM quick-connect coolant hoses don't use the standard hose clamp to secure the hose to the radiator. Instead, a quick-connect component is used as a fastener. You should check your coolant every...

Fixing an air conditioner in a car can be a major undertaking, or it can be as simple as recharging the freon in the system. Troubleshooting car problems can be an easy fix most of the time if you...

The thermostat on the Mazda Millenia is the heart of the coolant system. The thermostat regulates the flow of coolant to your motor and ensures your Mazda runs cool at all times. The thermostat...

The thermostat governs the flow of coolant in an internal combustion motor. When the engine is getting warm, the thermostat will release enough coolant to flow through the canals of the motor....

Check the coolant level when diagnosing an overheating motor. This will usually cause your motor to run hot and possibly blow your head gasket. Immediately check and replace your thermostat if the...

The thermostat housing on your Honda is accessible and, in most cases, very simple to remove and replace. The thermostat itself is responsible for maintaining the temperature of your Honda. When...

To maintain your radiator, you will need to test the pressure on the radiator as well as on the cap. The coolant system of your vehicle relies on pressure to properly circulate air in your vehicle...

The thermostat controls the coolant flow in your automobile. When the engine starts to get hot, the thermostat releases enough coolant through your motor to cool it down. When a thermostat goes...

A sticking thermostat will cause the Oldsmobile Cutlass to overheat causing serious motor damage. The thermostat controls your coolant system allowing enough coolant to flow through the motor...

Repairing an overheating Chevrolet TrailBlazer may very well be as simple as replacing a bad thermostat. After all, the thermostat is responsible for regulating the coolant flow through your...

Your 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier has two coolant hoses that run between the radiator and engine. One connects to the upper part of the radiator and the other to the lower section. These hoses are one...

The BMW E34 uses a bleed screw to remove air from the cooling system. While some vehicles use a bottom radiator hose or the radiator cap itself for this job, BMW has chosen this simpler method to...

A new thermostat will improve the health of your Ford Mustang. It means that the coolant is flowing properly through all the channels in your motor. The thermostat is a valve that regulates your...

Audi engines use a mix of antifreeze and water to cool the engine while it is running. Over time the coolant in your engine can break down. It can collect contaminants including oil and corrosion...

Winter driving conditions can be hazardous enough. When the temperatures drop below zero, just getting the vehicle started can be challenging enough. While most people may only experience a few...

The radiator in a car is a large tank made of copper/brass or aluminum. The radiator is constructed out of a series of small cooling tubes and fins. Coolant is pumped from the engine into the...

Oil in the radiator is usually caused by a blown head gasket between the engine head and engine block. In this condition, the coolant ports and the oil ports are no longer separated allowing to to...

Several different types of refrigerant have been used since the advent of car climate control systems. The very first compressed coolant was ammonia, which remained dominant until the invention...

The modern internal combustion engine is a remarkable device in many ways. It is literally the engine of our mobile society, bringing goods to market and people to wherever they need to be. Even...

Replacing the water pump is a last-resort repair to salvage your truck's coolant system. To replace the water pump, located above the crankshaft, you must work your way through many parts. The...

Pressure checking the coolant system in any automobile can be quick and easy. The coolant pressure test offered by Snap-on is easy to operate and will allow you to find any leaks in your coolant...

Cars are not supposed to leak antifreeze, also known as engine coolant. The fluid runs from different parts of the engine to others and is always contained. If you see this greenish fluid on the...

The Ford Freestar minivan was designed to accommodate families, with features like built-in bins for children's toys. The minivan's engine and powertrain were one of the most powerful among...

Though the 350 engine is a generally reliable platform, many experience overheating problems with time or modification. There are as many solutions as there are causes for this particular issue,...

Engine oil passages and coolant passages cross over a number of times in an engine. This means that there are a number of opportunities for fluid crossovers. The one common denominator in fluid...

No matter what you drive your vehicle's transmission is a critical component. Neglecting the health of your transmission could leave you with a huge repair bill or even leave you stranded. When...

Your Ford truck requires that you change the coolant in the radiator regularly to maintain performance and engine life. The radiator coolant is designed to maintain the temperature of the engine...

Home maintenance of your Toyota Tacoma truck gets more difficult with each new model as the engines get more complex. Most work on truck parts is best left for a professional to replace when...

It’s that time of year again, whether you’re a big fan of winter or not, there are a few things you should do before the winter season is here. At the top of the list should be preparing your...

You need to flush out the radiator on your Chevy Tahoe truck every 30,000 miles or 2 1/2 years, whichever occurs sooner. Flushing the radiator and adding fresh coolant will help prevent rust and...

The Aztek was a sport utility vehicle (SUV) manufactured by General Motors and sold under their Pontiac brand from 2001 to 2006. Adding engine coolant to the Aztek is easily done at home without...

The radiator in your Chevrolet Impala requires regular changing of the fluid to prevent corrosion and damage to the tank. Old radiator coolant in the Impalas system can create destructive...

An important part of car maintenance is keeping the engine's cooling system in good repair. Flushing the radiator of old coolant and putting in new antifreeze every two years will go a long way to...

One of the most critical seals inside any car engine is the head gasket. This junction between the engine block and cylinder must contain the force of combustion inside the cylinder. It also seals...

Coolant, or antifreeze, protects a car's motor from rust and corrosion by providing a cooling system that prevents overheating. Honda recommends that the coolant in a Civic be changed every...

Preventative maintenance is an important part of owning a car and keeping it in good running condition. Following the recommended maintenance schedule in the owner's manual can greatly reduce the...

As the weather changes so does the need to keep your car running in good condition. Cold weather can impact your car in many ways. There are a few easy steps you can do to avoid your car breaking...

The Mazda 3 is a sporty compact car that has been sold since 2004. Mazda recommends changing the coolant in your Mazda 3 at least every four years or 60,000 miles. Engine coolant should be bright...

Your car's radiator and coolant system must be clean in order to keep your call cool. Over time, your coolant system builds up deposits which ruin the cooling system. A simple coolant system...

Despite the fact that BMWs are among the best engineered cars in the world and the company is a leader in many aspects of the automotive industry, many of the cars it produces can suffer from head...