Service Tips

COOLING SYSTEM

• Flush dirt, bugs and leaves from the front of the radiator with a garden hose.
• Inspect the radiator cap. Replace the cap if the rubber gasket is broken, dried out or missing.
• Check the condition and level of the coolant. If it's rusty, clean the system and replace it with a 50/50 mixture of water and ethylene glycol antifreeze. Replace the coolant every year or 30,000 miles. Coolant becomes acidic and can do damage to the engine.
• Inspect the radiator and hoses for leaks and cracks. Hoses that are soft or mushy should be replaced. Tighten all clamps and replace hoses as needed, as most hose failures and leaks seem to occur sometime after 60,000 miles of service.
• Heater hoses run from the engine, through the firewall, and to the heater core under the dash. Replace swollen or cracked hoses.
• The thermostat controls the engine temperature, preventing engine overheating. The engine runs best when the temperature is maintained near the 200 degree mark. If it runs too hot, the engine is damaged; if it runs too cold, the engine will not run properly and will use excess fuel.
• Clean the front of the radiator as needed.
• Change antifreeze every year.
• Change hoses at about 60,000 miles.