Although you may not think about it often, your car's cooling system plays an important role in keeping your car going. If you don't know much about it, this post can help you get acquainted with it.

Get to Know Your Car's Cooling System

Your car's cooling system is hard at work any time your engine is running. Although you may not think about it often, getting to know what components make up this system and what they do can help you take better care of your car. Check out this useful information and start taking better care of your car's cooling system.

Your Cooling System's Basic Components

You may be familiar with the names of some of the parts that make up your car's cooling system, but do you know what each part does? If you're not quite sure what each part is responsible for or how your cooling system works as a whole, this information can help you get more comfortable with it all.

• Radiator: Your car's radiator may just be the most important component in your cooling system. You can find this part right behind the grill of your car under the hood. The reason it's located right behind the grill is because it uses air that gets sucked into your car to lower the temperature of your coolant. Once it has cooled down enough, the coolant is sent back on its way to the engine to once again remove some of the heat building up there.
• Thermostat: Right in between the engine and the radiator you will find the thermostat. This component is strategically placed in between the two because it's what either lets the coolant through to the radiator or stops it from flowing in that direction. The thermostat will only open to let the coolant through once it has reached a certain temperature. When it's still quite cool, the thermostat will remain closed, forcing the coolant to head back to the engine to pick up more heat.
• Water Pump: During your coolant's travels through the cooling system, it will have to flow through the water pump. This part will keep your coolant flowing through the entire system so that it can perform its job efficiently.
• Fans: Under the hood and right by the radiator, you will find one or two fans. These are meant to maintain the air flow to the radiator even when your car is stopped. These are controlled by a temperature sensor, so they'll only turn on when temperatures under the hood are getting too hot. For example, when you're in stop and go traffic and not enough air is being pulled into the radiator to cool down your antifreeze, the fans will turn on to increase air flow to the radiator.
• Coolant: Your car's coolant is the fluid that runs through the entire system and carries heat away from the engine. This fluid needs to be kept at the proper level in order for it to perform its job properly. Without enough coolant, your car can overheat and suffer some serious engine damage.

Getting a synthetic oil change in Williston can also help keep temperatures under the hood at a more reasonable level. Since your engine will work more efficiently with synthetic oil, it won't heat up quite as much. Because of this, using an oil like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil is a great option. To find even more great AMSOIL Oil products like this, contact the oil pros at Advanced Filtration Technologies, Inc at (701) 572- 3780.

Most Common Cooling System Issues

Your cooling system can run into a number of different issues, but some are more common than others. From coolant leaks to faulty parts, get to know the most common signs of trouble so you can take care of these issues before they have a chance to grow.

• Leaky hoses. Your entire cooling system is connected by a series of hoses through which your coolant travels. Through the years, these can get worn out and even start to dry up. As this happens, they can start to crack, which inevitably leads to leaks. As your coolant starts to escape through these cracks, you may be left with too little coolant, leaving your engine in danger of overheating. Look out for bright green drops of fluid under your car, a clear sign of a coolant leak.
• Malfunctioning fans. Your fans kick in and come to the rescue when the radiator isn't getting enough air to cool down your coolant quickly enough. If the fans stop working, this means your radiator will be left to do the job on its own, no matter how hot things get. This means overheating can happen quickly, especially in stop and go traffic or under other heavy conditions.
• Failing thermostat. Your thermostat has the important job of letting coolant flow to the radiator to cool down once it's picked up heat from the engine. If this part gets stuck and isn't able to let the coolant through, your engine will quickly start to heat up. With all of this heat trapped in the engine, overheating is inevitable.

Give Your Car a Synthetic Oil Change in Williston, ND

Keep your engine protected this summer with the help of a synthetic oil change in Williston, ND. Find the perfect synthetic oil for your vehicle by contacting Advanced Filtration Technologies, Inc. at (701) 572- 3780.