Vehicles require a lot of maintenance to ensure they're safe to drive and that they operate efficiently. There's a lot to keep up with, from tire rotations and replacements to oil changes. One common maintenance service that many car owners are not aware of is a coolant flush. While most auto shops will perform this procedure as part of your regular maintenance, it's still a good idea to be aware of what a coolant flush is and why it's an essential part of your maintenance routines. More importantly, it's important to know the signs that you're due for a coolant flush. Keep reading to learn more.
What is a Coolant Flush?
Just as it's important to replace your old oil to ensure proper lubrication of your engine and prevent excessive friction to damage parts, it's important to prevent the buildup of heat in the engine as well with regular coolant flushes. A coolant flush helps to remove dirt, rust, and sludge from your engine's cooling system, while also replacing all of the old, used coolant material with new coolant. Your engine relies on this coolant to keep itself from overheating, which can cause serious damage to your vehicle.
Signs You Need a Coolant Flush
As already mentioned, a coolant flush is usually a part of your routine maintenance. However, if you've been putting off your oil change and other maintenance measures, you might not have gotten the recent coolant flush you needed. This can eventually cause you to experience issues with frequent overheating. Heat balance is essential to the proper functioning of your vehicle, and if that temperature gauge on your car's dash begins to creep upward, it's a good sign that something is wrong. While shutting off the car and giving it some time will bring that temperature down, if the engine's temperature is rising to unsafe levels regularly, you need to take it in immediately.
If you notice either of these signs in your vehicle, check the cooling system, especially if you haven't had a coolant flush for a while. Your check engine light will also likely come on when this problem arises. It's important to never ignore that light, no matter how much of a nuisance it might seem to be.
Preventative Maintenance Routines
It's important to always have a good maintenance routine for your vehicle. Make sure you know when your car needs basic services like coolant flushes and oil changes and that you know the best Mercedes-Benz repair shop in Houston to get the services you need on a regular schedule.