There are so many myths surrounding cooling systems.

Without the cooling system in your vehicle, it would be prone to overheating. And, if you let a vehicle overheat for long enough, it can cause critical, and sometimes permanent, damage to your engine. There are many myths out there about cooling systems that lead some vehicle owners to neglect necessary maintenance or invest in the wrong parts, and that’s exactly why we’ve set out to debunk them. Learn about the first few myths we debunked in part one of this series, and keep reading to learn the truth about more cooling system myths.

Myth #5. Slowing down will stop your car from overheating.

When most drivers start to notice that their vehicle is overheating, they will instinctively slow down, pull over and shut off their engine. It may be counterintuitive, but you’d actually be better off speeding up rather than slowing down. Why? Because, in order to cool an engine, it takes flowing air across the radiator, as well as coolant flow. When you speed your engine up, it causes more coolant and air to flow to your engine.

Another way to to cool down an overheating car is to turn the heater on. Again, this is counterintuitive, but it works because your vehicle’s heater essentially acts as a cooling coil, dumping heat that comes from the engine into the cabin.

Myth #6. Getting rid of your thermostat will prevent your vehicle from overheating.

Surprisingly enough, one of the most common myths about cooling systems is that you can prevent your vehicle from ever overheating by simply removing the thermostat. But, you should know that not only is removing the thermostat an ineffective way to prevent overheating, it can also make the problem worse. The thermostat is responsible for regulating the flow of coolant by opening and closing based on the temperature of the coolant. Without a thermostat, the coolant will just get hotter and hotter.

Back in the day, before vehicles had computers that monitored the temperature and everything else, removing the thermostat was a way to keep vehicles cooler, but even back then, this only amounted to covering up the problem rather than really solving it. In modern vehicles, though, removing the thermostat can cause real damage, including a buildup of carbon, poor gas mileage and, eventually, the need for a new catalytic converter.

Myth #7. When your coolant gets low, all you have to do is fill it back up.

In our last blog, we touched on the need to get the coolant flushed every so often rather than just refilling it. This is necessary because coolant can degrade over time, just as oil can. However, when you’re filling your coolant, it’s also important to note that you should only fill it to about an inch under the filler neck. This is because coolant rises as it warms up.

In order to ensure that you’re filling your coolant properly, after you fill it, leave the radiator cap off and start your engine. After a few minutes of the engine warming up, the thermostat will open and the engine will release any stray air pockets. This way, you’ll be able to truly see how much coolant your vehicle needs.

Myth #8. It doesn’t matter what kind of antifreeze product you use.

In a perfect world, it wouldn’t matter what kind of antifreeze product you put in your vehicle because they’d all be up to par, but unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect world. There are huge differences in the quality of different kinds of antifreeze products, and you should always check your owner’s manual to make sure that you’re using the right one. Believe it or not, using the wrong antifreeze product could actually void your vehicle’s warranty.

Shop Flex Technologies for the silicone coolant hoses you need!

Now that you know the truth about many of the common cooling system myths, you also know how important it is to install the right parts in your vehicle, and the radiator hoses are no exception. When you shop with us at Flex Technologies, you’ll find a wide range of silicone coolant hoses to choose from, but we don’t stop there. We can also customize a silicone hose to your exact specifications. Learn more and get started today!