Do You Regularly Check The Radiator?

The blog this week is about performing regular maintenance check- ups on your Volvo or Toyota. This time we will focus on the radiator. You risk catastrophic damage to the engine of your Volvo or Toyota if your radiator fails. Everyone is trying to save money at the moment, interest rates are rising, fuel bills are rising, food costs are soaring, insurance costs are rising etc so when it comes to owning a car, we need all the help we can get to keep costs down. Read on to find out more:
The coolant that you use in your radiator is usually a mix of antifreeze and water – the antifreeze is there to make sure that your Volvo or Toyota starts in cold weather – to make sure that the water in your radiator has not frozen! You need to check the levels on a monthly basis, to make sure that you are not experiencing any leaks. If it needs topping up when you check it then make a note of how often you are having to do this. It is a relatively quick way to notice leaks – you shouldn’t need to top this up regularly. Keep a bottle of coolant in your boot for emergencies. We have said this so many times in previous blogs – you never know when you will need it – we also advise having a litre of oil too. Please be advised – never ever check when your engine is hot. You risk injuring yourself by escaping steam – and oh boy does that hurt!!! Do the check before you start a journey or when your engine is cold. Also never check these levels if you are parked on a hill. Try to make sure your Volvo or Toyota is on a level surface.
If you notice that the temperature gauge on your Volvo or Toyota is increasing or running hotter than normal, then it is advisable to get your car booked in to your local independent garage for inspection – it could be a sign that your water pump is damaged or that it has just come to the end of its life – the water pump does what it says – pumps water/coolant around the engine – if this fails then it could be costly in terms of the resulting damage. Know your car folks and act quickly! Don’t ignore the signs! They will not go away – they will just get worse – be mindful of your dashboard warning lights. We cannot stress the importance of proactive maintenance – reactive repairs will always cost you more. Ensure that you do not miss your regular servicing schedule and do your monthly checks in between. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!
Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire