Jacksonville Cooling System Repair & Maintenance

Radiator

Today’s automobiles use aluminum radiators to transfer heat from the hot coolant flowing through the radiator to the air blown through it by the fan. The radiator and fans serve to keep the engine and the transmission at acceptable temperatures. On most automobiles with automatic transmissions, automatic transmission fluid is routed through an oil cooler inside the radiator.

Maintenance and automobile:

A radiator leak between the coolant and the automatic transmission fluid can contaminate the transmission fluid and cause transmission failure. Red or brown drops of oil in the coolant would be a symptom of such a leak. Because the transmission oil cooler is inside the radiator, the radiator must be replaced in order to eliminate the problem. Jacksonville & St. Mary's AAMCO’s External Diagnostic Service for transmissions and 36-point ProtectCheck can help to pinpoint problems in the radiator and cooling system.

Antifreeze/Coolant

Antifreeze/coolant, when used properly, serves to prevent freezing, boiling and corrosion in the cooling system. Your owner’s manual indicates the correct antifreeze/coolant for your specific automobile.

Maintenance and automobile:

Cooling system failure is the leading cause of mechanical failure on the highway, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Generally, antifreeze/coolant should be changed by a Jacksonville & St. Mary's AAMCO mechanic about every two years or 24,000 miles, and many automobile professionals believe annual changes are warranted for late model automobiles with aluminum radiators. The main issue is corrosion resistance; if the antifreeze/coolant loses its ability to inhibit corrosion, the result can be expensive internal corrosion in the radiator, heater core and engine. The only way to know if the antifreeze/coolant still has adequate corrosion protection is to test it, which can be performed for your automobile by the trained mechanics at Jacksonville & St. Mary's AAMCO. Please refer to your owners manual for factory recommended maintenance intervals for your specific automobile.

Thermostat

The thermostat regulates the cooling systems temperature. When the engine is cold, the thermostat stays closed and allows the coolant to keep flowing within the engine and warms the coolant quickly. As the engine warms, the thermostat opens.

Maintenance and automobile:

Have your thermostat and entire cooling system checked annually by a Jacksonville & St. Mary's AAMCO mechanic (they are inspected as part of Jacksonville & St. Mary's AAMCO’s ProtectCheck). A bad thermostat can cause a variety of problems, from overheating, knocking, high idle speed, low temperature gauge readings, even an emissions test failure.