Caution: Do not mix green ethylene glycol antifreeze with orange antifreeze «DEX-COOL», which does not have silicate components, since this reduces the efficiency of the latter, which is intended for operation over a mileage of 160,000 km (or 5 years).
1. Most engine malfunctions occur due to problems in the cooling system. On vehicles with an automatic transmission, system coolant also circulates in the transmission oil cooler. Thus, the performance of the cooling system directly affects the performance of the automatic transmission.
2. The cooling system is checked when the engine is not warmed up. Carry out the check the next day after the car has been in operation or no earlier than three hours after turning off the engine.
3. Slowly turn until it stops and remove the radiator cap. If there is a hissing sound (which indicates the presence of pressure in the system), wait until it stops. If there is no hissing sound, push the cap in and continue unscrewing it. Wash the lid thoroughly on both sides with clean water. Also clean the radiator filler neck. Completely remove all corrosive deposits. The coolant in the radiator should be relatively clear. If there is a rusty tint to the liquid, drain it and then fill the system (see subsection 30). If necessary, raise the fluid level by adding the required volume of appropriate antifreeze solution to the system (see subsection 4).
4. Carefully inspect the larger upper and lower radiator hoses, as well as the smaller diameter heater hoses entering the rear partition of the engine compartment. Inspect the entire length of the hoses and, if necessary, replace cracked, swollen or worn hoses. Cracks appear when the hose is compressed (see illustration).
14.4. Hoses, like drive belts, fail, which takes the car owner by surprise. To prevent unexpected failure of the cooling and heating system hoses, periodically inspect them according to the given method
5. Make sure the hose connections are secure. A coolant leak will appear as whitish or rusty deposits in the area where the hose has ruptured or been punctured. If you have spring clamps, it is recommended to replace them with more reliable worm-type fasteners.
6. Use compressed air or a soft brush to remove stuck and dried insects, dry leaves, etc. from the front of the radiator or air conditioning condenser. Be careful not to cut yourself on the sharp honeycombs of the radiator, and do not damage them.
7. If the coolant level constantly decreases and there is no leakage, it is necessary to check the system pressure and determine the pressure that is held by the expansion tank cap. To do this, contact a service station.