Keep Your Cool In The Heat Of SummerDriving (NAPSA)—Whenthe temperature outside starts to rise, do you start to sweat about your car over- heating? Any car older than seven years with more than 50,000 miles is a probable candidate for boil over. Your car heats up every time you run it, which creates wear on all the cooling system parts, includ- ing hoses, belts, thermostat, and the radiator. If your car starts overheating, it’s probably caused by one of the following: 1. Insufficient coolant— When the temperature warning light goes on, you may be low on coolant. After the car cools, check the coolant andfill to the proper level with a 50/50 mixture. 2. Dirty or rusty coolant—lIt’s timeto flush the cooling system. 38. Hose deterioration—If your hoses are spongy, hard, or start to swell around the hose clamps, it’s time to replace them. 4. Sticky thermostat—lIf the engine takes too long to heat, it means your thermostat is stuck in the open position and needs to be replaced. 5. Worn fan belt—If your fan belt is cracked, fraying, or starts to squeal, it is probably slipping. Replace worn belts and check for properbelt tension. 6. Sludge or rust in the radiator—When your engine overheats and there is goo visible in the radiator neck, it’s time to clean or replace the radiator. 7. Coolant overflow—Loss of coolant through the overflow pipe usually means a leaky radiator cap. “When it comes to radiatorfailure, it’s a combination of the age It’s a cool idea to keep your car’s radiator in good condition, especially in hot weather. of the car and the mileage,” said Mike Rippey, president of 1-800Radiator. “Most of our customers drive vehicles that are at least five years old.” 1-800-Radiator is a nationwide service that helps motorists by arranging fast and inexpensive radiator service anywhere in the country. 1-800-Radiator delivers the right radiators to its network of reliable mechanics throughout the United States, usually within hours. Do-it-yourselfers can call 1-800-Radiator and have a new radiator delivered to their home within 24 hours. And only 1-800Radiatoroffers a lifetime warranty. “We look at our service as an extension of toll-free road service. If your radiator fails anywhere in the country, you can call our tollfree number and get expert assistance right away,” adds Rippey. “We can find a mechanic in your area and get you the right parts at the best price, and get you back on the road in the shortest possible time.” For more information on radia- tor maintenance and repair, visit www. 1-800-radiator.com.
