Tag Archive for ‘coolant’

How to stay cool on the cheap

Remember Tab soda? Well, not only is it, pretty much, the final choice in soda, but it's also the final choice in coolant substitutes.

If the air conditioning in your car isn’t keeping you cool there may be cheaper fixes than driving down the highway with your windows open.

Before you spend $100 to $250 having a mechanic poor coolant into your compressor, try doing it yourself. It’s easy.

The air conditioning units in cars used to run on Freon, which has been outlawed due to its harmful environmental effects. Cars now use Tetrafluoroethane, more commonly known as 134a.

What you need to know about antifreeze coolants

Car in ice courtesy of crazy-frankenstein.com

Antifreeze coolant is one of the most vital fluids in your car's operation, since it protects the engine from corrosion, from boiling or freezing temperatures, and helps transfer heat from the engine to the radiator. There are several varieties of coolant on the market, and since each type contains different chemicals, mixing coolants can create chemical reactions which are dangerous to both your car and you.

How to check your car’s engine coolant

How to check engine coolant

Making sure there is enough engine coolant is important. Low amount of lack of coolant causes the engine to overheat and that can cause a lot of damage. All can be easily avoided by preventive maintenance - by checking the coolant level regularly.

Before you check the engine coolant level make sure the engine is NOT hot! Let the engine cool off a good amount of time - several minutes - before opening the coolant overflow tank.

On the side you will see level markers for full and low.

2001 Chevrolet Blazer Water Pump Repair Estimate – $125 – $310

2001 Cheverolet Blazer Water Pump

I have a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer that has some problems.  How much would it be to repair my 2001 Chevy Blazer's Water Pump?

Victor R. Baltimore, Maryland

We would estimate the repair to break down like this.

Labor cost range 1-2 Hours $75.00-$220.00 (depending on hourly rate)

Parts cost range- Water Pump $45.00-$75.00

                                    Water Pump Seal $5.00-$15.00

Estimated Repair Cost Range = $125.00-$310.00 (depending on part quality and hourly shop rate)

You will also need replacement coolant and you may want to flush the radiator and cooling system while this job is being done.

Causes and Fixes for an engine that overheats quickly and on short trips

Overheating Car

How do you find out the cause of your overheating engine? Your car's engine overheats quickly, briefly after you start the car. You may notice it within the first few minutes of driving. You might see some steam coming from the hood or there may not be any steam.

There are a few things you can do to check for possible causes for the overheating on short trips.

How to flush a car radiator

Radiator Cap

Keeping up with regular car maintenance is important for safety and for longevity of your car. Flushing a car radiator is one of the critical maintenance jobs you should not ignore.   Over time  deposits can build up and create blockages in the cooling system. Flushing the radiator is a fairly simple job to do it yourself.

How do you flush a Radiator?

First you need to gather all items you will need to do the job including a Phillips screwdriver or a wrench, a rag, a container of radiator flush solution, funnel, coolant and a container to place the used coolant.