With summer temperatures on the rise, your car's cooling system may have to work harder to keep things cool. If you're not familiar with all the work it does, this post can help you understand it.

Cooling System Basics

Although many motorists may not know exactly how their cooling system works, this doesn't mean it should go ignored. If you're one of the many motorists who has never stopped to consider what your cooling system does, this post can help you get to know the components that make up this system. With this information, you'll be better prepared to take care of your cooling system and catch issues before they turn into expensive repairs.

The Components That Make up Your Cooling System

Your cooling system is made up of a number of different parts that all work together to ensure the entire system is running smoothly. When one part is unable to do its job properly, the whole system will suffer. Getting know what these different parts are and what they do can help you take better care of the system as a whole and prevent serious issues from developing.

• Radiator: Your car's radiator performs the important task of cooling down your coolant. This part is located behind the grill of your car because it uses some of the air that enters your car to help it reduce the temperature of your coolant. Once it has done its job, the coolant will then make its way back to the engine, continuing its cycle.
• Thermostat: Your thermostat can be found between the radiator and the engine. It's located between these two parts because it's what lets your coolant leave the engine once it's heated up enough and allows it to pass through to the radiator to cool down. If it isn't quite hot enough, the thermostat will remain closed, redirecting your coolant back to the engine to pick up more heat.
• Water Pump: The water pump is in charge of ensuring your coolant is able to circulate through the entire system efficiently.
• Fans: The fans in your cooling system won't be on at all times. In fact, they're regulated by a temperature sensor that will determine when they're needed. These will turn on and pump more air into the radiator when not enough air is making into your car. For example, if you're in stop and go traffic, your engine will be on and heating up but the radiator might not be getting enough air to cool down your coolant fast enough. This is when the fans will turn on to help the system work more efficiently.
• Coolant: Of course, your cooling system will also rely pretty heavily on your coolant. This fluid travels through the entire system, removing heat from the engine and then traveling to the radiator where it cools down. It repeats this process over and over to keep temperatures at a reasonable level.

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Cooling System Issues That Can Affect Your Car

There are a number of issues that can negatively affect your cooling system, but some are more common than others. To prevent your car from overheating, get to know these all too common issues so that you can take care of them before they lead to serious trouble.

• Coolant leaks. Your car's cooling system relies on a series of hoses to transport your coolant from one component to the next. These hoses can start to show signs of wear through time and can even start to crack. When this happens, they will very likely start to leak coolant. While a few drops here or there may not seem like a big deal, losing coolant will lead to an insufficient amount of coolant. This can leave your car in danger of overheating.
• Faulty radiator fans. While the fans in your cooling system won't be on all the time, they're still needed to help keep things cool under the hood. If your fans stop working, your radiator won't have the extra support it needs to cool things down fast enough. As a result, things will get hot very fast, leaving your engine to overheat.
• Thermostat issues. Your car's thermostat opens and closes to let coolant through, but if it gets stuck and can't let coolant through to the radiator, there could be serious consequences for your engine.

Get a Synthetic Oil Change in Chambersburg, PA

Keep your engine cool this summer with the help of a synthetic oil change in Chambersburg. Find the perfect oil for your car with a bit of help from the oil pros at Cerberus Systems, Inc. Give them a call at (717) 658-1256 for more information about their products or to place your order!