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r -- * Wednesday, May 26,1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D7 AUTOMOTIVE Don't blow your lid over engine cooling system When a cooling system fails, the engine overheats. And when a car over­ heats for very long, metal engine parts can be seriously damaged and require expensive repair. Overheating can result when the coolant level is too low or when there is a leak in the system. Sometimes just dri­ ving in stop-and-go traffic on a hot sum­ mer day with the air conditioner running is enough to overheat the engine. A low coolant level leads to overheat­ ing because there isn't enough fluid in the system to absorb engine heat. The air in the system that is absorbing these high temperatures is a poor heat conductor and won't do an effective job of transferring the heat to the radiator. Cars with coolant recovery tanks have markings on the white plastic tank indi­ cating where coolant levels should be when the car is running and when it's not. If the coolant level is low after repeated fillings, you probably have a leak in the system. Hoses are the most likely source of leaks because they are structurally the weakest components of the cooling sys­ tem. Hoses must be flexible to absorb vibration, so they are made of rubber compounds. Rubber, unfortunately, is not as durable as metal. Intense engine heat can harden and crack even the best rubber; oil can soften and swell it; the simple passage of time can break down its internal bonding; and electrochemical degradation can crack the tube. In many instances, hose leaks occur at faulty connections to the inlet and outlet pipes. Make certain the hose clamps are secure. When replacing a hose, it's also a good idea to replace the clamps. Traditional worm-drive clamps or the new constant tension clamps are best To extend the service life of a hose, keep it away from damaging external ele­ ments such as hot manifolds, oil-leaking parts and sharp edges. In these situations, protect the hose with a sleeve. You should also avoid using the solu­ ble oils found in some coolants, under the assumption they lubricate the water pump. Most modem antifreeze solutions contain all the lubricants a water pump needs. Soluble oil only serves to destroy a hose before its time. All cooling system hoses should be inspected every six months. Most often, the upper radiator hose and the curved bypass hose will fail without warning. But, eventually they all will need to be replaced. It is common to find an occasional drop of coolant under the water pump. Excessive leaking, however, indicates a problem. Housing bolts on the pump should be tight. If they are, and leaking persists, the pump's inner seal is probably damaged and the pump must be replaced. Radiator leaks are often just the result of a loose petcock or plug. Simple tight­ ening should correct this. The inner seal on the radiator cap should be checked periodically. If the seal is cracked, or the metal parts are rusted, coolant will escape and the cap will fail to pressurize the remaining coolant ade­ quately. White stains on the radiator point to a more serious problem. These stains result from coolant reacting with the metal parts. Pouring a liquid sealant in the radi­ ator might solve the problem, but chances are good that the radiator needs to be repaired or replaced. This is frequently the case with many of today's aluminum radiators. Leaks can occur in the heater control valve or in the heater core. A liquid sealant can sometimes help but, more often than not, the heating system units will have to be replaced. Leaks can occur on the engine block wherever there is a bolted housing, such as at the thermostat or water pump hous­ ing. You should also inspect the block's drain plugs and core plugs (also known as freeze plugs). Core plugs are holes left in the engine when it is cast and later cov­ ered by metal discs. If these discs loosen or corrode, coolant can escape from the block. I f you h ave a n e w s tip o r s to ry id e a , c a ll th e O a k v ille B e a v e r a t 8 4 5 -3 8 2 4 . Now Under New Management. W a lte r W e d d e p o h l Service Team Leader D o m e n ic A lm o n te Service Team Leader . . .But with Fam iliar Faces! W alter & D om enic would like to welcome all their customers, past and present, to come and visit them at Towne Chevrolet. Come experience the new changes we have to offer. Service Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat. 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. 547 Trafalgar Road T O W N E °a™'* 844-2320CHEVROLET OLDSMOBILE INC. Q.E.W. ■ SKu,s C ro s s S t. I I # TRANSIT S . S e rv . Rd. L a k e s h o re Rd. E xtend life o f car tires Tires take a beating all year long. During the winter months, they are subject­ ed to snow, ice, freezing tempera­ tures, salt and gravel. Spring and summer bring on higher temperatures and an increase in ultraviolet rays, which can crack and dull a tire's finish. If left untreat­ ed, not only do tires look worn and old, but they wear faster than necessary, caus­ ing a potential safety problem. Spring is the per­ fect time to take a look at tires in order to restore their appearance after a harsh win­ ter and protect them for the upcoming sum­ mer. Selecting the proper tire care product is an important part of year-round tire m a i n t e n a n c e . While proper inflation pressure and regular rota­ tion of tires are important steps consumers can take in prolong­ ing tire life and increasing safety, these precautions primarily protect the tire tread. The tread, however, is not the only part of the tire sustain­ ing wear. Sidewalls are also prone to wear and tear from poor road c o n d i t i o n s , weather, potholes and other factors. It is important for consumers to use products which are formu­ lated for rubber, not vinyl, on their tires. Vinyl protec­ tants can cause long-term dam­ age to tires, including drying and cracking of the sidewall and a browning effect on the finish. Tires are a serious invest­ ment and deserve ' serious care. Proper care can help preserve that investment and give consumers the maximum wear and safety from their tires. PER MONTH PUIS TAXES m i « e * * • £ ? • ' PER MONTH PUIS TAXES FINANCING hollandchevolds.com C A V ftU E R M 4 ■ r ra s s r iS -* T s "S t ,N Chew Superstore will be duklng n out on *e cos^ oK ̂ ^ wlth over400 band weekend but right no cutttnft deals like neve lifetime, vans and 4x4's on the ^ ^ malt. Get yourself the So do yourself a favour. ^ DEAL IN TOWNlU rs it aPtp dealt Bet on It. ITS TO VH1S UNO « « OVER 400 BMHO m toW - " f JJSjCHRYSLER WARRANTY. TOP TRADE-IN ALLOWANCES. traDE-IN- WE NEED TRADE-INS'.!'. S S S S S S* 7 ,000 You had better hurry on this one. n nllMrr« PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES. l LOW LEASE RATES AVAILABLE. G M f in a n c in g low asas 0.A.C models.selected CHEVROLET • GEO • OLDSMOBILE U I A 1 / £ * I !AT U K o u j i u n c j c m i id A iia TUESDAY, MAY 25th (Sneak Preview) . . 6 p.m. 'til 9 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 6 t h .......................... 10 a.m . 'til 9 p.m. THURSDAY, MAY 27th .............................10 a .m .'til 9 p.m. FRIDAY, MAY 28th .................................. 10 a.m . 'til 9 p.m. SATURDAY, MAY 29th (Last Day) . . . . 10 a.m . 'til 6 p.m. CHRYSLER • DODGE • JEEP RAIN OR SH IN E... AND DON'T FORGET, WE MAKE OUR BEST DEALS IN THE RAIN. i