5 Signs of Cooling System Failure

Your car's engine runs at extremely hot temperatures. The cooling system exists soley to prevent the motor from quite literally melting itself from the inside out. The cooling system consists mainly of a radiator, fan, thermostat, water pump and a series of hoses that allows for coolant to travel through the engine in order to reduce its operating temperature. If any of these parts fail you may experience one or more of these symptoms of cooling system failure.

Rising temperature gauge

One of the first signs of trouble that you might run into if your car's cooling system is having issues is the temperature gauge on your dashboard rising into the red zone. There are several things that can cause this, so be sure to head to your local mechanic to find out what the specific problem is, which may include a faulty thermostat.

Steaming hood

If you ever notice white smoke coming out from under your hood, pull over right away. This is a sign that your engine is currently overheating and it needs to be shut off before bigger problems arise. You may need to add water to the radiator in order to continue driving, but ask a mechanic for advice regarding your particular situation.

White exhaust smoke

White exhaust smoke being emitted from your tailpipe is often a sign that your car is burning up coolant inside the combustion chamber. This indicates that there is a leak inside the motor that needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

Low coolant levels

If you do experience large puffy clouds of white exhaust smoke be sure to check your coolant reservoir to ensure that there is proper levels of anti-freeze in the system. If it is low you can confirm your hypothesis that there is some sort of leak in the system that is allowing the coolant to be burnt up. Checking your coolant levels should be a regular part of your vehicle maintenance.

Visible antifreeze leak

Another obvious sign of cooling system trouble is a visible coolant leak. Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is generally bright green in color and has a sweet smell. It will generally collect underneath the front of the vehicle if there is indeed a leak.

Never hesitate to have coolant system problems resolved, because if you wait, larger issues may occur which could require a complete engine rebuild. For professional cooling system and radiator repair in Vista, CA, visit the experts at Autotyme Automotive. Our crew of auto repair techs will ensure your car or truck is reliable to drive! Give us a call at (760) 298-5999 to request quality auto repair in Vista today.

Autotyme Automotive Inc. Blog

Written and Published By MORBiZ