Engine Coolant Flush Service in Gilbert, AZ: Ensuring Optimal Cooling Performance
What is a Cooling System Flush?
At Highline Car Care, we’re huge advocates of preventive maintenance! Vehicles nowadays are incredibly reliable, often leading to a general assumption that they won’t break down. However, one crucial aspect that often goes unnoticed in the East Valley and Gilbert area is your car’s cooling system. With the extreme heat in Gilbert, maintaining an efficient and well-functioning engine cooling system is as essential for your car as it is for you.
Contrary to common misunderstanding, we’re not talking about air conditioning here, but about your vehicle’s radiator, radiator cap, thermostat, water pump, cooling fans, serpentine belt, and most importantly, engine coolant or anti-freeze. This lifeblood comes in many colors – Green, Blue, Pink, Red, or Yellow, but regardless of the color, it requires timely maintenance.
When is it Time for an Engine Coolant Flush in Gilbert, AZ?
If you’re asking this question, it’s probably time already! People seldom consider flushing their radiators until their mechanics suggest it. Engine coolant plays several critical roles:
- Preventing Electrolysis, Rust, and Corrosion: Your cooling system comprises plastic, steel, iron, and aluminum—all susceptible to damage by water and electricity. Anti-freeze mitigates this damage.
- Protecting Your Cooling System from Boiling: The boiling point of water in the Valley is about 210 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature your engine can easily reach during summer. To prevent boiling, we normally fill cooling systems with half water and half coolant. This mixture, along with a pressurized cooling system, elevates the boiling point to 230 degrees or higher. It’s crucial to maintain the fluid in a liquid state to efficiently dissipate engine heat.
- Keeping Your Cooling System from Freezing: While this isn’t a concern in Mesa, it could be if you’re planning a winter ski trip. Temperatures below 32 degrees at night can freeze water, leading to catastrophic damage to your engine and cooling system. Healthy engine coolant lowers the freezing point to 35 degrees below zero, safeguarding your cooling system overnight.
The takeaway is that your coolant requires servicing over time. Typically, we recommend flushing green coolant around 60,000 miles due to its tendency to corrode your cooling system over time. Long life Red, Pink, Blue, and Yellow antifreeze usually lasts for 100,000 miles. However, every vehicle is unique, and we don’t recommend service without inspecting your vehicle first.
What’s Involved in a Radiator Service & Flush?
The service begins with an inspection of your cooling system’s vital components for leaks, functionality, and wear and tear. In extreme cases, we drain a small amount of coolant from your radiator and add a cleaning compound. After the chemical circulates through the system, we load our flush machine with the appropriate new coolant and perform the fluid exchange. This process removes 95% of your engine coolant directly through the radiator, without disconnecting a hose. Once all the old coolant is removed, new coolant is pulled in, all while your vehicle idles in our shop. The entire process takes under an hour, ensuring a safe and efficient engine cooling system!
Cooling System Service in Gilbert, AZ
Depending on the condition of your particular cooling system, the type and quantity of coolant being exchanged, and the type of flush machine used, the service cost may range from $150 to $300. Our coolant flush typically ends up on the lower end of the cost spectrum due to the efficiency of our machine. Some more complex machines require more setup time, thus increasing your costs. At Highline Car Care, our goal is to provide cost-effective and efficient cooling system services.
Flushing your coolant system is crucial to its performance. Don’t let dirty, contaminated coolant compromise your vehicle’s efficiency or leave you stranded on the side of the road. Trust the experts at Highline Car Care to keep your vehicle’s cooling system in prime condition. If you are in Gilbert, AZ, or the surrounding areas and need expert maintenance for your vehicle’s cooling system, stop by Highline Care Care or schedule an appointment online today!