Avoid Thermostat Failure With A Simple Check-Up

  • PEAK
  • May 31, 2018

When thermostat failure happens in your vehicle, you’ll feel it. On a winter day, while everyone’s freezing outside, you’ll be inside your car freezing, too. It’s not always easy to diagnose why your thermostat malfunctions or fails, but generally it’s likely you haven’t been performing simple coolant maintenance.

What does the thermostat do?

 

The thermostat is the watchdog of your car’s cooling system. It monitors the temperature of the coolant and regulates coolant flow through the radiator and heater core, ensuring your engine operates at normal temperature. When your thermostat malfunctions or fails, it’s not able to perform as intended. For example, if you were to turn up your car’s heater, you’d be sitting like a duck stuck to a frozen pond.

 

 

Coolant maintenance is the check-up every vehicle deserves.

 

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again–Coolant is the TRUE LIFEBLOOD of your engine. It regulates the engine temperature, as well as all of those critical engine parts. When your coolant level starts to dip below the fill line, or the condition of your coolant is off, the temperature of your coolant will rise, and failure and trouble will set in. It’s almost like a snowball effect, and on a winter’s day, that’s exactly how it will feel.

 

You’re just 18-degrees from a mechanical emergency

 

When your engine gets 18-degrees above its normal operating temperature, the protective additives of coolant break down faster. This damages your thermostat in the form of rust, corrosion and even scale. The more you neglect to check up on your coolant levels, the likelier your thermostat is heading toward failure.

 

Check Your Coolant Levels Early and Often

 

When is the last time you checked your coolant levels? The levels in your coolant reservoir should be checked regularly. Many drivers will only check at the start of spring and summer, but that simply is not enough. Regular check-ups can give you the assurance that your car will perform in the way it’s supposed to.

 

Top Off or Perform a Flush and Fill

 

If your coolant reservoir is low, top it off with PEAK Long-Life 50/50. All automobiles and light-duty trucks can benefit from this mainstay coolant from PEAK.

 

Next, check the condition of your coolant with a PEAK Tester and visually inspect the color of the coolant.

 

If the coolant is dirty or the test indicates poor quality, we suggest performing a complete flush of the system and fill with PEAK Long-Life Full Strength and water mixture.

 

 

Coolant is the True Lifeblood of Your Vehicle

 

Regular check-ups and routine maintenance will help keep your car running at its peak. Steer clear of mechanical emergencies by using PEAK products and the advice of Dr. Coolant M.D. After all, a healthy car is a happy driver.