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Just about everyone has heard the old cliché “The best offense is a good defense.” With that thought in mind, this may be the best possible advice for combating the high gas prices the nation is currently faced with. Twist the cliché around to read, “The best method to save money at the pumps is to maintain good car maintenance.” Automotive and fuel industry experts are all suggesting that taking excellent care of your car can dramatically impact its fuel system’s ability to effectively use gas. That is one of the best options out there for getting great gas mileage.
One of the most overlooked systems of a car is the cooling system. Its job is eliminate damaging heat from the engine and keep the temperature in the range that is optimal for engine performance. How this helps with fuel efficiency is that the engine doesn’t have work harder than necessary, saving valuable gas, to perform as it was designed to do. In the long run, making sure that the temperature of the engine is correct will save you money at the pumps and help to prolong the life of your vehicle’s engine.
As a guide to understanding what your mechanic is saying in terms of the cooling system or just as a reminder for you do it yourself types, the cooling system is made up of several components. The water pump is responsible for moving the coolant through the engine and radiator. It is operated using either a timing or fan belt depending on the year the car was made.
Speaking of the radiator, this part does the job of cooling the coolant through airflow. Keeping the coolant clean is a vital part of making sure the radiator stays clear and unobstructed. Anyone who has had a thermostat go bad in their vehicle quickly learns how important this component is. It is responsible for controlling the flow of the coolant into the engine. Malfunction of the thermostat is the primary reason that engines overheat.
It is a common occurrence for the hoses of the cooling system to be forgotten. They are a necessary part of cooling. If they are dry rotted or damaged, they can’t perform their function of delivering coolant between the radiator and engine. Replacing these is a quick fix that can make all the difference in the world. Finally, the cooling system is complete with the coolant itself. It is typically a mixture of water and ethylene alcohol. Check with your owner’s manual to find out how often the coolant should be changed. Obviously it is less effective when dirty or old.
The standard suggestion is to change the coolant every 2-3 years. It is also a good idea to have the cooling system professionally flushed once every 5 years to maintain the working order of the system. Corrosion in the cooling system is damaging to your vehicle and does nothing to help with rising gas costs. In this case, the best offense is good preventative car maintenance.