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Radiator |
Antifreeze/Coolant |
Thermostat |
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Complete Car
Maintenance: Radiator |
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Today’s cars use aluminum radiators to
transfer heat from the hot coolant flowing through the
radiator to the air blown through it by the fan. The
radiator and fans serve to keep the engine and the
transmission at acceptable temperatures. On most vehicles
with automatic transmissions, automatic transmission fluid
is routed through an oil cooler inside the radiator. |
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Maintenance and Care: |
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| A radiator leak
between the coolant and the automatic transmission
fluid can contaminate the transmission fluid and
cause transmission failure. Red or brown drops of
oil in the coolant would be a symptom of such a
leak. Because the transmission oil cooler is inside
the radiator, the radiator must be replaced in order
to eliminate the problem. AAMCO’s External
Diagnostic Service for transmissions and 36-point
ProtectCheck can help to pinpoint problems in the
radiator and cooling system. |
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Complete Car
Maintenance:
Antifreeze/Coolant |
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Antifreeze/coolant, when used properly,
serves to prevent freezing, boiling and corrosion in the
cooling system. Your owner’s manual indicates the correct
antifreeze/coolant for your specific vehicle. |
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Maintenance and Care: |
| Cooling system failure is the
leading cause of mechanical failure on the highway,
according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Generally, antifreeze/coolant should be changed
about every two years or 24,000 miles, and many car
care professionals believe annual changes are
warranted for late model vehicles with aluminum
radiators. The main issue is corrosion resistance;
if the antifreeze/coolant loses its ability to
inhibit corrosion, the result can be expensive
internal corrosion in the radiator, heater core and
engine. The only way to know if the
antifreeze/coolant still has adequate corrosion
protection is to test it, which can be performed for
your vehicle by the trained technicians at AAMCO.
Please refer to your owners manual for factory
recommended maintenance intervals for your specific
vehicle. |
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Complete Car
Maintenance: Thermostat |
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The thermostat regulates the cooling systems
temperature. When the engine is cold, the thermostat stays
closed and allows the coolant to keep flowing within the
engine and warms the coolant quickly. As the engine warms,
the thermostat opens. |
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Maintenance and Care: |
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your thermostat and entire cooling system checked
annually (they are inspected as part of AAMCO’s
ProtectCheck). A bad thermostat can cause a variety
of problems, from overheating, knocking, high idle
speed, low temperature gauge readings, even an
emissions test failure. |
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