Auto Transportation

Posts Tagged ‘coolant’

Maintaining the health and well-being of your vehicle between regular recommended tune-ups is up to you. The manufacturers and the designers of your car, created the best possible automobile for your needs, with the belief that you depend on your vehicle, which you do. In return for providing you with safe, reliable, and comfortable transportation, your car only asks in return to be taken care of and treated with respect.
This means that you need to keep an eye and an ear open for any problems or concerns that arise with any and all of the gadgets, thingies, and doo-dads that make your car go.

The list below will give you an idea of what to be aware of and to watch out for that may indicate a potential repair issue. In addition to the other topics we have already discussed in the previous articles.

Important items to check every month

1.    Inspect the battery, for any corrosion or leakage. If there is any, then replace the battery immediately.
2.    Open the hood and have a listen for any noises that just don’t sound quite right. After you have owned your car for a little while, you will become familiar with the normal sounds that your engine makes when the car is running as it should. If you do hear any unusual sounds, and cannot determine what is causing the noise, take the car in to be serviced.
3.    While the engine is running, check to be sure that each of the lights is working properly. Head lights, taillights, turn signals, back-up lights, and the dashboard (instrument panel) lights. If one or more is not working, check the wiring, and the bulbs, to determine if any need to be replaced.
4.    Turn on the windshield wipers, if they are not in good contact with the windshield; push them down just a touch. If the blades are damaged, replace them.
5.    Check the pressure level on all four tires, and the spare. If any are low, take them to a gas station, and fill them up.
6.    Also inspect the tread on the tires, if the wear seems uneven, you should consider having the tires rotated.
7.    Take a look under the car, if you see any spots on the ground, find out what is leaking. If you cannot repair the leak yourself, take the car in for an early check up.

Items you may want to have on hand

It is a good idea to keep in your garage, a few of the more important necessities for minor repair issues. Just in case you need them immediately. There isn’t always a service station or a hardware store open when you need one.

•    Motor oil
•    Brake fluid
•    Transmission fluid
•    Tire gauge
•    Spark plugs
•    Coolant and purified water
•    Hoses, vacuum and basic
•    Belts, for the important parts such as the clutch
•    Filters, air, and oil
•    Fuses, in a variety of sizes and for various needs
•    Windshield washer fluid
•    Bulbs for the lights

http://www.juble.com/articles/a301-monthly-automotive-maintenance-part-7.html

The cooling system in your BMW is not hard to keep running efficiently, but if you ignore it you are risking serious and expensive problems in the future. Occasional attention to the BMW parts that control the temperature of your engine will keep it running smoothly.

Why Engines Need To Stay Cool

An engine in its simplest form is a heat reservoir and a cold reservoir. Energy naturally flows from hot to cold and the engine converts some of that energy to move your car. The greater the temperature difference between the hot and cold reservoir, the more efficient the engine is.

That description is fine on paper, but real engines use real materials and those materials have temperature limits. Your cooling system carries on a delicate balancing act, keeping the engine hot enough to run efficiently but cool enough not to degrade the fittings, gaskets, oil and otherBMW parts. If the cooling system isn’t well maintained the engine won’t run as well.

The Anatomy Of Your BMW’s Cooling System

Three systems of BMW parts make up the bulk of your cooling system: the water pump, the hoses, and the thermostat.

The water pump keeps the coolant moving through the engine. Despite its name it isn’t actually pumping just water since water isn’t efficient enough to cool today’s high performance engines. Instead your engine is cooled by antifreeze. Despite its name, antifreez protects against both freezing and boiling. Pumps are driven by a gear or belt that runs off the revolution of the engine and some have secondary electrical pumps for additional cooling.

The term “hoses” refers to a collection of BMW parts that also includes valves, the radiator, and the expansion tank. This array of fluid paths allows the coolant to come into contact with as much of the engine as possible. The more contact, the more efficiently it cools.

Your engine doesn’t have just one thermostat but a number of temperature sensors located throughout the engine. In this context it also refers to valves controlled by the thermostats. These valves control flow ofcoolant so that it is circulated only as the engine needs it. Ideally the engine should heat up quickly and then use coolant to maintain optimal operating temperature.

Maintaining The Cooling System

There are a few steps for owners to take to ensure the BMW parts responsible for keeping the engine cool run in top condition.

Routine maintenance includes replacing the coolant at specified intervals. Because the coolant is exposed to such great heat it breaks down over time. It also picks up impurities from the engine. For this reason, the coolant should be replaced as specified in the maintenance manual.

Hoses should be checked every six months for cracks or leaks and if any are found they should be repaired or replaced immediately. In the absence of visible damage, all hoses should be replaced every few years.