When Do I Need to Replace the Coolant in My Car?

Engine coolant goes by many names, including radiator fluid, radiator coolant, or antifreeze. No matter what you call it, engine coolant is one of the most vital car fluids for any vehicle. It is a combination of antifreeze and water (usually a 50/50 mix), and serves a number of purposes for a car. First, it runs through a vehicle’s radiator to remove any excess heat and prevent the engine from overheating. Next, since it contains antifreeze chemicals, it prevents it from freezing up in cold temperatures. But also, engine coolant prevents corrosion and works as a lubricant to the water pump and other internal workings.

So as you can see, radiator fluid is very important for a car or truck to operate safely and effectively. Continue reading to learn when your vehicles engine coolant should be changed, as well as, factory car maintenance scheduling, and more!

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Radiator Fluid Flushes

Changing or replacing the radiator fluid in your vehicle is referred to as coolant flush. Regular coolant flushes are vital for your vehicle because it inhibits corrosion, prevents over-heating, and provides lubrication to the internal workings of your engine’s water pump, radiator, and heater core. See our blog, “How to Diagnose Your Car’s Overheating Engine” to learn how to identify such engine problems.

To properly identify when your coolant is dirty, you must first know what the color of the fluid is when brand new. The primary colors of engine coolant are yellow, orange, green, and black. Check the color of your radiator fluid once every week. When this color starts to change, you know it’s time to change your radiator fluid. But the most noticeable sign that it is time to replace the coolant is when your engine starts to overheat. The temperature gauge on your car’s dashboard will tell you how hot the engine is getting, and if you start to see smoke, it’s gone too far!

Never operate a vehicle with an overheating engine. Not only is this extremely dangerous, it causes significant damage to the engine. This can result in a costly repair, engine replacement, or even a totaled vehicle. As soon as you are aware your engine is overheating, take it to an auto so immediately and have it serviced.

All fluids should be changed, flushed, and replaced regularly for all vehicles. The general factory car maintenance schedule is every 3,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. This includes motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, battery fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and in some cases, even transfer case lubricants. But engine coolant does not need to be replaced this often. Most manufacturers suggest flushing the coolant every 24,000 to 36,000 miles, or once every 2 to 3 years. But if you are driving in hot climates or long distances regularly, then once per year is a better schedule.

Struck on the Road With Car Engine Problems in Indianapolis?

Call Zore’s Inc. at 317-247-8484 for friendly 24 hour towing and roadside assistance in Central Indiana. We open a family-owned and operated business for 90 years, so you can trust us for prompt and professional service. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, so our certified tow truck operators can be there for you anytime, any day! Request free estimates, anytime.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Why Did My Car Battery Die?

It’s happens to most drivers, the situation of the unexpected that car battery. And why does it always seem to happen when you’re already late for something, or on your way to work? A dead car batteries never convenient nor does it ever occur at a convenient time.

Fortunately, a dead car battery can be easily resolved with either service or replacement; so there is never a need to worry if the situation never arises. There are multiple reasons why your car battery may be dead. From parasitic draw and sulfation, to car accessories, water loss, and corrosion, that car batteries are a result of many influences.

Continue reading to learn more about why your car battery may have died and what to do to get your car back on the road again.

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Top Reasons Why Car Batteries Die

Drainage

One of the most common reasons why a car battery dies is due to drainage. Have you ever left your lights on overnight only to find your car will start the morning? This is a common occurrence in one of the most frequent reasons why people have dead car batteries. The simplest solution for this issue is a jumpstart. This involves using a set of tools called jumper cables and requires a second vehicle or battery charging.

Water Loss

Another common reason for dead car batteries is water loss. Of course, modern-day automotive batteries are sealed and maintenance-free, so there’s no need to refill water as you go; however, many of these same batteries also retain a water level indicator that lets you know if the water level is sufficient or not. Water plays a critical role in the electro-chemical equation of car battery, so when the water level is insufficient it can affect how the car battery functions. When the water level is too low or completely empty, the electrolytes are imbalanced thus causing the battery cells to become too acidic. This leads to sulfation on the battery plates, which is our next topic. As for water loss, most car batteries have’s that can be unscrewed so you can fill the cells up with distilled water.

Sulfation

Sulfation is another reason my car batteries die. Sulfation occurs when batteries are left sitting for long periods of time without being charged. And the longer they sit, the worse the sulfation gets. Lead sulfate crystals form on the battery plates, causing the current within the electrolyte to diminish. Often times, a battery that has too much sulfation is not repairable. But in minor to moderate cases, slow trickle charging or pulse charging the battery are usually effective solutions.

Corrosion

Corroded battery terminals are another common reason why your car battery might be dead. Corrosion and battery terminals interrupts the flow of electrons between the anode and cathode. By regularly inspect in both negative and positive battery terminals, you can catch this problem early on and resolve it with professional car battery repair or replacement. Corrosion can also occur due to electrolysis taking place from the different metals on the terminals and cables, or if there’s an imperfect seal between terminal posts and plastic casing. That would allow sulfur acid to leak into the terminals.

What To Do if You Get Stranded With a Dead Car Battery

Call Zore’s Inc. at 317-247-8484 for friendly 24 hour towing, recovery, and roadside assistance and advice in Central Indiana. We open a family-owned and operated business for 90 years, so you can trust us for prompt and professional service. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, so our certified tow truck operators can be there for you anytime, any day! Request free estimates, anytime.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

How to Prepare Your Car for a Spring Break Road Trip

Spring is just about here, which means Spring Break plans are already in motion! If you are planning a road trip for spring break this year, keep in mind that it requires a fair amount of thought, research, and preparation. In addition to making all the necessary arrangements, mapping a driving course, and packing, be sure not to overlook another important aspect of road-tripping, which is car care. Simply topping of the gas tank and re-filling windshield wiper fluid won’t cut it; and stocking up on air fresheners won’t either. So, when it comes to going on a road trip, you must also prepare your vehicle for optimal safety and dependability.

Continue reading to learn how to prepare your car for a fun and safe Spring Break road trip!

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Perform a Full Vehicle Inspection

Before planning a road trip with your personal vehicle, it is important to first determine just how “ready” your car is for long distance driving. A simple pre-road trip inspection should do the trick. You can choose to do it yourself, or hire a licensed mechanic to do it for you. By finding small problems and having them repaired before your trip, you can greatly reduce the chances of experiencing costly mechanical problems on the road. This avoids a long list of safety hazards, inconveniences, and unexpected expenses.

What to Inspect:

Check all vehicle filters and fluids. Fluids include motor oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and battery fluid. Replenish necessary fluids and replace old or dirty filters wit new ones. You may need a licensed mechanic for help with this part of the inspection.

Check all hoses and belts for signs of damage or deterioration. Look for brittle, cracked, kinked, frayed, or loose belts and hoses. These are critical to your vehicle’s electrical system and should be repaired before a long road trip.

Check the vehicle’s alignment, tire tread, and tire pressure. Get a tire rotation and balance, as well as an alignment if these areas are off in any way. See our blog, “How to Test Tire Tread Using a Penny” to determine if your tires have enough tread for a long-distance drive.

Check the brake system. Be sure the battery connection is clean, well-fit, and free of corrosion. Check brake pads and replace worn or old ones.

Check all exterior vehicle lights, including brake lights, hazards, parking lights, and more. Replace bulbs and fuses as necessary.

Check your gas cap. Be sure it is damage-free and secure. Also be sure your license plate is not loose or missing any screws.

Who to Trust for 24 Hour Roadside Assistance in Indiana

If your car breaks down in Indiana at any point during your spring break road trip, call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance for fuel fill-ups. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484