car accident 2/21/19 – Auto Coolant / Tire Pressure – gtg

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Air Filter | Auto Accident Injury and Repair Resources

Coolant is the fluid that captures heat produced by the engine and disposes of it through the radiator. The heat is also dispersed through the heat exchanger in the passenger compartment when you turn on your heater in cold weather. Coolant, normally referred to as antifreeze, is a 50/50 combination of ethylene or propylene glycol and water. Servicing the coolant is a two-step process of draining and/or flushing the vehicle’s cooling system and replenishing what was emptied with a fresh supply.

Should this service be performed at recommended intervals?

Yes, because swapping the old coolant for new rids the cooling system of soot that can clog it up and create issues with heating and cooling in the winter and summer months.

Why is it necessary to change the coolant?

Since coolant operates in an environment where extreme heat is a factor, it naturally breaks down as time passes. Furthermore, the coolant’s rust inhibitors become depleted, leaving the tiny cooling passages of your engine and radiator susceptible to corrosion. Despite the presence of rust inhibitors, corrosion is likely to occur with age. In turn, the coolant will become polluted with rust particles and other debris.

What happens if I stop changing the coolant for a lengthy amount of time?

If the rust inhibitors fail, the interior of the cooling system will begin to deteriorate until the exterior rusts out as well. The biggest contributor of rust in a vehicle’s cooling system is the engine block. As time goes by, rust bits will also cause an obstruction to the small passages inside the radiator and heater. Eventually, this buildup will cause the engine to overheat. When this happens, you can be sure you’ll have to pay a mechanic a large chunk of change to restore your vehicle.

Is there any upkeep that may be necessary between scheduled coolant maintenance?

You should check your coolant level according to the stated interval in your owner’s manual. If the engine temperature is cold when you check the coolant level, the coolant should be even with or above the “minimum” line on the clear refill container. If you check the coolant when the engine is hot, it should be no higher than the “maximum” fill line.

If you notice the coolant seems to have disappeared, this could be caused by an external or internal leak. An internal leak is more expensive to repair, but either one should be fixed as quickly as possible because operating on little to no coolant can result in cataclysmic engine failure and an even larger cost to fix the problem.

If you live in a climate where the temperature often drops below freezing, request that your mechanic checks the concentration of coolant. Watered down or weakened coolant may have the ability to freeze if the temperature falls below 32°F.

Consult your owner’s manual to find out if your vehicle uses “long-life” coolant. If so, the only maintenance your car should require is checking the coolant level to verify whether coolant is leaking or burning.

Quick tip

Antifreeze has a smell and taste that appeals to household pets. A mere half teaspoon is capable of killing an average-sized cat, and eight ounces will kill a 75-pound dog. There is nothing that can be added to antifreeze to decrease its appeal to animals, but antifreeze made with propylene glycol, as opposed to ethylene glycol, is about 67 percent less toxic. Look for the brands Sierra, Prestone Low Tox, and Texaco PG for safer antifreeze.

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Tire Pressure
Tire pressure is the amount of air in an automobile’s tire measured in pounds per square inch. To be safe, you should check the amount of air in all four tires at least once a month using a pressure gauge.

Should I check the tire pressure if a technician recommends it?

For sure.

What is the point of this procedure?

Filling your vehicle’s tires with the correct amount of air is a safety issue that cannot be taken for granted. Aside from the brakes, tires are the most important safety device your car has to offer. Poor tire pressure can negatively impact cornering, braking, and stability. Even worse, it can contribute to tire failure and a bad accident. Improper tire pressure can also affect the quality of the ride, gas mileage, and tire life.

What happens if I neglect my tires?

If tires are overinflated, less of the tire’s surface area comes into contact with the ground. As a result, the vehicle will dart all over the roadway, traction is reduced, the required amount of stopping distance increases, and overall comfort is compromised.

If tires are under-inflated, more of the tire’s surface area comes into contact with the ground. This increases friction between the tire and the roadway. Thus, the tires are under more stress, which leads to rapid wear and tear. Increased friction also triggers overheating, which in turn may cause the tread to separate. Tread separation is extremely unsafe and could result in a terrible accident, especially at a high rate of speed. If your tires squeal around corners, you should probably make a stop to fill them up.

Even if there are no obvious signs that your tires are leaking, you should check the tire pressure because it varies depending on the temperature outdoors. For every ten-degree drop in temperature, tire pressure is reduced by approximately one pound per square inch. For example, if you last checked your tire pressure in the middle of summer when it was 80°F, and it’s now -20°F in January, there is a good chance your tires may be dangerously under-inflated by as much as ten pounds.

How do I determine the correct amount of air to put in each tire?

Many people’s gut instinct is to look directly on the tire itself to find out the exact amount of pressure it should be inflated to. However, this is misleading because the figure on the tire is actually the “maximum allowable air pressure” as opposed to the suggested pressure for that tire on a specific vehicle.

The suggested tire pressure is usually below the maximum tire pressure. Your vehicle owner’s manual will inform you how to locate the suggested pressure, which is most likely found on the driver’s side door pillar, the glove box door, or the gas tank door. Once you’re aware of the manufacturer’s suggested tire pressure, you will need a dependable tire gauge to verify the pressure. Analog (dial) or digital gauges are the most accurate, while the pencil-style gauges tend to be the least reliable.

It is recommended that you check the tire pressure when the vehicle hasn’t been driven for a few hours and has been sitting at air temperature. It is also acceptable to drive it a few blocks if you need to reach a gas station to access a pressure gauge. However, if you’ve just driven for a few miles down the highway, don’t expect a precise reading.

Don’t forget to check the pressure of all four tires and make a false assumption that since three of the tires are correctly inflated, the fourth must be identical. In fact, that last tire could even be going flat. It can’t hurt to check the spare tire periodically since the last thing you would want is to find it flat in a time of need. If your spare tire is a “donut,” or one that is smaller than your regular tires, the pressure is probably not going to be the same. The suggested pressure for the spare should appear right on the tire.

Should I monitor my tires in between scheduled maintenance intervals?

Even if you do not have any apparent problems with your tires, you should still check their pressure at the start of each season or before you leave on a long trip. Any time you do bring your car in for other scheduled maintenance, request that a service technician checks your tire pressure. Chances are, they’ll do this for free, and it’ll give you a good indication how accurate your personal pressure gauge is.

Quick tip

Even if your tires look fine to the naked eye, you should still check them with a pressure gauge. Radial tires can be even more deceiving and may still look normal even if they are over or under by ten pounds.

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