Auto Heating Maintenance Tips And Advice

Did you know that the heating system in your vehicle is one of the only

components to have stayed largely the same since the invention of the

combustion engine? This is mostly down to its simplicity and

reliability plus its ability to work perfectly no matter what changes are

made to other engine components.

During the colder months of the year, you depend on your heating and

cooling systems to keep the passenger compartment warm and your

engine running smoothly. Nothing beats the heat inside a vehicle on a

cold and frosty day.

At the Helwig Auto car repair shop, we offer heating system

maintenance that will ensure the temperature around your engine is

regulated and that you have access to internal heating when you need

it the most. There are also some precautions and a maintenance task

that you can take on to ensure your heating system stays in great

shape.

It is most likely that your car will overheat in hot weather rather than

cold, but if you are stuck in miles of traffic, your vehicle can overheat

no matter what the time of year.

The trick is not to panic. There are a few things you can do to help

regulate the temperature if the temperature dashboard light pops on:

If your heaters are not already on, turn them on. No, we’re not

going crazy! This actually draws heat away from the engine and

back into the passenger compartment helping to cool the engine

down.

If you are stuck in traffic, give the accelerator a few nudges to rev

the engine. This will cause the water pump and the fan to accelerate

too and this will help to draw more liquid and air around the

engine.

It’s tempting to ride the brakes when stuck in traffic but brake drag

can increase the load on the engine and cause the temperature to

peak even more.

At our mechanic shop, we see many heating system issues that could

have been prevented with good car care. Topping up the radiator is

one maintenance task that takes moments but one that many people

forgets to do.

Here’s how to do it:

Take off the radiator cap by placing a cloth over the top and turning

it gently. Take care if the engine is warm as the radiator could spit

out hot water or steam. It is best to let the engine cool down first.

You should be able to see how high the water level is by looking into

the radiator. Add a mix of 50/50 water and coolant and check your

manual if necessary to find out what the liquid level should be. It’s

usually advisable to ensure all the tubes of the radiator are covered.

Replace the cap, screw it on tight and you are done!

Our auto repair service is second to none and we mean it when we say

we can take care of any auto problem. Whether your vehicle has

started to overheat or you have another problem with your heating

and cooling systems, we can help.

At Helwig Auto, we offer expert auto repair in Madison and Dane

County and we should be your number one choice when it comes

to arranging car maintenance. You can also join our mailing list to

keep up to date with our latest deals and discounts.