Cooling System Service in St. Joseph, MO

Services Included in a Cooling System Service

The first step for our Service Center in a cooling system service is to inspect the system. We look at belts and hoses and note if any are cracked or damaged. We want to find and fix the problem before it becomes a major issue. We’ll also inspect the radiator, water pump, thermostat, head gasket, heater core, fans, and control valve. Our team will check for any leaks and measure the pressure and volume of coolant in the system. We’ll check to make sure it’s the correct ratio of water and antifreeze.

If it’s time for your cooling system to be flushed, we’ll take care of that during our routine service. We flush out the old coolant and install any replacement parts that are needed before refilling the system with new coolant. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often the vehicle should have the cooling system flushed. It can range from 30,000 miles to 120,000 miles, depending on the model.

How to Know When You Need a Flush

Sometimes, your vehicle will let you know that it needs a cooling system service. Some signs to look for include the following:

• The temperature gauge on your dashboard runs hot. It may not be in the redline, which is dangerous, but it may run more on the hot side than cool.
• If the engine overheats and steam is coming out from the hood, you may need new coolant.
• You might notice a sweet smell like maple syrup. If being around your vehicle makes you think of pancakes, it’s time to bring your vehicle in for service.
• You may see a green or orange puddle under your vehicle, which indicates that you have a coolant leak.

You may hear someone say “antifreeze” or “coolant” and think they’re the same thing. While the two are related, they are different. Antifreeze is the product that keeps your vehicle from freezing in cold temperatures. Coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water, usually a 50/50 ratio.

Antifreeze is necessary to prevent the water from freezing in the winter and the engine from overheating in the summer. It’s important to never use straight water in your cooling system.

Schedule Cooling System Service with Victory GMC St. Joseph

If you need to have your cooling system serviced and the coolant flushed out and replaced, schedule an appointment online with Victory GMC St. Joseph. You can also give us a call and our Service Center will set up an appointment.