Showing articles & questions for topic
coolant

Related articles

What is Engine Coolant or Antifreeze?
A A combustion engine works by burning a mixture of fuel and oxygen at temperatures over 200 degrees. Complete this process more than 2,000 times per minute, and you’ll understand how an engine can develop a lot of heat, and...
5 Commonly Overlooked Vehicle Maintenance Items
Brake fluid, auto transmission fluid, and coolant flushes, as well as cabin filter changes and valve adjustments, are all important services.
How Long Does a Coolant Reservoir Last?
The coolant reservoir is a tank located in your vehicle that holds the overflowing coolant that comes from your cooling system. The reservoir...
How Long Does an AC Compressor Last?
As long as your car is running the way it should, you probably don’t even think about all the parts that are working...
How to Replace a Coolant Temperature Sensor
The coolant temperature sensor switch is not working if the engine emits black smoke. The switch may have failed if the car gets poor fuel economy.
What Does the Coolant Temperature Warning Light Mean?
The coolant temperature warning light turns on when your engine is sensed to be too hot and is at risk of damage from overheating.
Signs Your AC Needs to Be Recharged
If you feel the AC is not cooling as much as usual, cannot hear the AC clutch engaging, and see refrigerant leaks, you may have to recharge your AC.
How Does a Radiator Keep an Engine Cool?
Car radiators cool off your engine and prevent your engine from overheating. Coolant absorbs engine heat and dissipates it through the radiator.
How Does a Radiator Keep an Engine Cool?
Car radiators cool off your engine and prevent your engine from overheating. Coolant absorbs engine heat and dissipates it through the radiator.
How Does a Radiator Keep an Engine Cool?
Car radiators cool off your engine and prevent your engine from overheating. Coolant absorbs engine heat and dissipates it through the radiator.
What Causes a Car to Overheat?
Several problems can make your car overheat. A leaky cooling system, blocked radiator, bad thermostat, or failed water pump are common causes.
P1116 OBD-II Trouble Code: Engine Coolant Sensor Out Of Range/ECT Sensor Out Of Self Test Range
P1116 P1116 definition A P1116 trouble code is related to a vehicle’s engine coolant sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-replace-a-coolant-temperature-switch-sensor-by-timothy-charlet) that sends a temperature signal to the engine computer so it can relay a signal to the temperature gauge (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/3-essential-things-to-know-about-your-car-s-temperature-gauge) in your dash. What...
How to Diagnose a Faulty Water Pump
The water pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-buy-a-good-quality-water-pump) is a part of your vehicle with an important role in the engine's cooling...
How Often Do I Need to Top Off My Coolant?
"Coolant" is a term used to refer to radiator fluid. The purpose of coolant is to circulate through the engine compartment...
Is It Safe to Drive With the Coolant Pressure Light On?
Your Coolant Pressure Light comes on when your engine is overheating due to insufficient coolant. So, can you drive safely with your...
How to Troubleshoot a Faulty Car Thermostat
When you are concerned about the routine maintenance of your car, it is natural to get to a point where you will ask yourself,...
How to Replace a Car Surge Tank Hose
Replacing a surge tank hose involves working on the coolant system, which can burn you when the engine is hot. Stay safe by waiting for it to cool.
How Does a Radiator Keep an Engine Cool?
Car radiators cool off your engine and prevent your engine from overheating. Coolant absorbs engine heat and dissipates it through the radiator.
How Does a Radiator Keep an Engine Cool?
Car radiators cool off your engine and prevent your engine from overheating. Coolant absorbs engine heat and dissipates it through the radiator.
How Does a Radiator Keep an Engine Cool?
Car radiators cool off your engine and prevent your engine from overheating. Coolant absorbs engine heat and dissipates it through the radiator.

Related questions

No heat and the temperature gauge goes down.
Hi there. Check the heater control valve on the heater hoses under the hood. The valve is controlled by vacuum. Check the vacuum lines and see if they have came off or split. With the engine at operating temperature, check...
Where is my coolant sensor
Hello, thanks for writing in about your Jeep Cherokee. The coolant temperature sensor for the gauge on your Cherokee should be on the back of the driver's side cylinder head. If you need some assistance with this, consider YourMechanic, as...
What does the engine coolant temperature gauge do?
You have a number of important gauges, readouts and lights on the dash. The engine coolant temperature gauge is one of the most critical. It measures the temperature of your engine’s coolant. During normal driving, it should stay in the...
The car runs hot
I would suggest checking to make sure the coolant temp sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/coolant-temperature-switch-sensor-replacement) is working correctly. This tells the coolant fans when to come on. I would also check to see if there is any white smoke (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/smoke-from-engine-or-exhaust-inspection) coming from under...
Steam is coming out of coolant reservoir.
Hello. If your coolant overflow tank is steaming and overflowing, then that means the vehicle is running hotter than normal, and may even be overheating. The vehicle will need to be inspected for possible overheating issues (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-overheating-inspection) and any repairs...
Replace water pump
Hello. If your vehicle is leaking antifreeze, especially at the water pump, then I would stop driving the vehicle and get it repaired as soon as possible. An engine leaking at the water pump is likely to overheat quickly, which...
Possible blown head gasket?
I believe you are on the right track. Anything mixing with coolant or oil is a definite blown head gasket. However, you may even have a cracked head due to the fact that you are running out of coolant. Check...
Overheating
This can be caused by a number of things such as low coolant levels or a failing coolant fan switch. As you may know the coolant fan switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/cooling-fan-relay-replacement) helps to maintain the proper coolant temperature by turning on and...
Over heating
This can be caused by a number of things such as low coolant levels, a faulty thermostat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/thermostat-replacement), or a failing coolant fan switch. As you may know the coolant fan switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/cooling-fan-relay-replacement) helps to maintain the proper coolant temperature...
over heating
If you see no coolant leaks yet you are adding a half gallon of coolant every hundred miles indicates the coolant is going somewhere. It may be a small enough external leak that the coolant is burning off before it...
Why is my car leaking antifreeze?
Based on your description it sounds like your engine is overheating and the overheating is accompanied by a coolant leak (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/coolant-is-leaking-inspection). Coolant leaks can be both a cause and a consequence of overheating. Consequently, once the leak is repaired, your...
What kind of coolant should I use?
It’s imperative that your vehicle is equipped with the coolant, especially if you use the air conditioning. The ideal coolant mixture for your car is 50% water, and 50% ethylene glycol antifreeze.
Water pump needs replacing
Hello, a coolant leak should be repaired sooner than later to avoid engine damage. To check for leaks, the cooling system needs to be pressurized and inspected. If the coolant pump is found to be leaking then it will need...
Temperature problems
Hello there, there are many faults that will cause your 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe's temperature gauge to only rise to 1/2 and the heat not function. The most common cause is air stuck in the cooling system, this commonly happens after...
Steam coming from the coolant reservoir
Hi there. The coolant reservoir cap could be not sealing properly and causing the coolant to boil and steam coming out the vent or the coolant could be weak and needs changed as the boiling point has been lowered making...
Radiator leak.
The radiator for the Tahoe has two plastic side tanks where all connections to hoses and reservoir tank are made. This radiator is not repairable and will have to be replaced if the radiator is deemed faulty. A pressure test...
Overheating and heater not working
It sounds like you may have a faulty thermostat as well as a bad coolant temperature sensor. If the coolant is not getting to the heater core, then this would indicate a bad thermostat or a clogged heater core not...
Over heating problems
Based on what you are describing, typically a Mechanic would look for a faulty water pump, faulty radiator cap, plugged up, or externally obstructed, radiator, and/or non functioning electric cooling fans. However, your description of erratic operation of the temperature...
Over Heating
I would test for exhaust gas in the coolant which, if present, would mean that there is a head gas leak. If the coolant level is falling slowly over time, that suggests a leak as well and a pressure test...
Oil in coolant.
Oil in your coolant is a bad sign. This usually indicates a leaking head gasket or cracked head. A cooling system pressure test and block test will be able to determine this. I suggest having a qualified technician, such as...

Need a mechanic?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 700 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

Get a quote