Talking About Automobiles

Spending the night having a nice talk with a friend, near a warm fireplace, sipping wine, talking about the good old days...it's all great. Then it's time to go home, you go to your car, and then you realize that the car is in “cryostasis” cast by Mr. Freeze. Everything’s frozen, the motor isn't working, and it is simply frozen solid. And you are left wondering what you could have done to prevent such situation.

Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council, said, “Inspecting and maintaining your vehicle’s cooling system takes just a few minutes of your time, but it is well worth it when you consider what could happen… Cooling system failure is the leading cause of engine-related breakdowns, which can cost thousands of dollars and leave you and your family stranded at the worst possible time.” Not exactly the perfect way to end a nice, enjoyable evening right?

But fret not. Unfortunate endings like this can be prevented. Here are some tips from the Car Care Council, which I found at news.carjunky.com:

• Check coolant levels accurately. Basic service tools and an antifreeze ball tester would greatly help. You can find them at your local auto parts store.
• Let the engine cool down. Note: opening a hot radiator, coolant reservoir or overflow tank can probably cause severe burns.
• Make sure the mix ratio is right. If the antifreeze or coolant is low, add a 50/50 mix of approved antifreeze and distilled water. If you have changed your antifreeze recently, but levels are low, make use of the antifreeze ball tester to assure that the coolant-to-water ratio is correct.
• Inspect the hoses. Changing coolant is a good time to check for and replace any leaking, brittle, spongy or cracked hoses. Be extra cautious and make sure the radiator hose clamps are tight to prevent leaks at the connections.

Now these things wouldn't take up so much of your time. Compared to ending a night in mishap, why not make sure your night, special as it is, end a happy ending?