We all have an inherent nature (some would call it laziness) within each of us that tends to put important things off. When it comes to maintaining your vehicle’s health we know that certain things need attention but the prevailing attitude for most of us is…”I’ll get around to it later, not right now.” Does that sound like you?

The winter cold is upon us and whether we like it or not, it’s time to check the condition of our vehicle’s anti-freeze. Our car or truck’s coolant condition tends to be a low priority item, and other than giving the level on the side of the opaque overflow bottle a casual glance to see if it is within the cold and hot range, we tend to ignore it. We give a much higher priority to the oil level in our vehicles when we gas up, when the full-serve station attendant asks if you would like the oil level checked.

It is very important to check the condition of your vehicle’s coolant. Traditionally, the green or ethylene glycol based coolant, by far is the most predominant anti-freeze available. The green colour is a result from a dye being added to distinguish the product as being anti-freeze.

Few motorists realize that anti-freeze has a lifespan of only two years, because it decomposes. It loses it’s protection agencies and begins to form acids. These acids in turn will react with your car or truck’s radiator, aluminum engine head, head gasket and hoses.

The first step is to check the coolant level in your vehicle’s expansion bottle. If no coolant is visible, then open the plastic cap and have a look inside. Sometimes the opaque bottle may be too dirty to see the coolant level from the outside. If the bottle is empty, you may have a coolant leak, or if you haven’t checked it for six months or so, it may have evaporated. Next, open the radiator cap (the engine must be cold) and check to see if the coolant level is up to the top. If it is then you’re OK. Fill the expansion tank with a mixture of 50% anti-freeze and 50% water.

If your radiator is low on coolant you need to determine if there is a coolant leak. First inspect the water pump, which is usually located in front and center of the engine block. It has a fan pulley and two radiator hoses attached to it. If it is possible, look underneath the water pump and you may detect a small hole. If there is a leak on the water pump you may see a leak there. Telltale signs may be water marks or lines that will be visible on the crankshaft pulley or engine tray, etc. This is where you may have lost your coolant from the expansion bottle.

If this is where you are experiencing your coolant leak, the water pump will, in most cases, have to be replaced. To confirm this you will need to have your radiator pressure tested. IF the water pump isn’t suspect, run the engine and inspect the upper and lower radiator hoses for leaks, as well as the heater hoses. The problem may be as simple as a loose hose clamp that needs to be tightened.

Other hoses that should be checked are small hoses that may run in a carburated vehicle to warm up the thermostat, or that warm up the idle valve regulator on a fuel injected car or truck. If you don’t detect any leaks, top up the expansion bottle and check it again in a week or so.

The second point aspect regarding the coolant in your vehicle is to check the colour of the anti-freeze. This is very important. New anti-freeze will have a bright green colour, whereas cooland that has been in the vehicle for two or more years will have a brownish-green appearance as a result of decomposition. This is a good indication that the anti-freeze has become acidic and needs to be changed. A good rule of thumb is to change your vehicle coolant every two years. After two years coolant can eat away at the water pump impeller, ruin head gaskets and cause sludge build up in the radiator and heater core, which can lead to your engine overheating.

If you are still uncertain whether your anti-freeze is good or bad take your car or truck to a reputable garage and have the mechanic check the coolant with a refractometer. This device will shine a little light through your coolant and measures the opacity of the anti-freeze. Reading a graduated number scale will allow the technician to determine how clean or dirty the coolant is. If it is borderline, it is time for a coolant flush. Before flushing the coolant it would be wise to have the cooling system pressure tested to ensure there are no leaks in the system before the new anti-freeze goes in.

While you are checking your vehicle’s coolant at this time of year, check the fan belt or serpentine belt to make sure it is tight. Have your mechanic do a load test on your vehicle’s battery to ensure it’s condition will see you through another winter. If instead of reading 12 or 13 volts, it reads 9 volts, then you should have it replaced. Lastly, have the technician check the starter motor current draw and alternator charging output to ensure those important components are working properly.

Doing these checks on your vehicle should ensure your peace of mind, knowing that you’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure a trouble-free winter. Happy motoring!