Is a Radiator Flush Really Going to Help Your Car?

Posted: Mar 26, 2014
Author: Country Town Tire & Auto Service Center

Many cars can run for a long time without a radiator flush-- sometimes even years-- but there comes a time when you will probably start to wonder if you need to flush the radiator. Often you hear about needing a radiator flush and have no idea what that means or why it’s needed.  You may even begin to worry that perhaps your vehicle needs a radiator flush and that because you didn’t know about it, you are hurting your car. But in truth, if you regularly maintain your car and take it into an auto shop for tune-ups, most likely this situation will not creep up on you.

The people who service your vehicle should be able to give you a heads up if they think your car might need a radiator flush. A flush can help extend the life of your car if you do it every 40,000-60,000 miles, or about every other year. But there are some signs you can look for on your own that will help you get a better idea of if your car needs a radiator flush.

• When driving your vehicle, watch to see if it’s overheating or if there is steam coming from your engine. The two usually coincide, but watching for both or either is always a wise decision.
• Take off the radiator cap (make sure the engine is cooled down before doing this, as it can be dangerous) and check the color of the fluid you can see. If it is a rusty color, it’s time to flush the radiator out and get clean fluid into it.

Over time, rust and particles get into the coolant and make it not function properly. If it goes too long, it will cause problems and even clog. Getting a radiator flush will save you the trouble of having more expensive problems in the future. So if your auto shop is suggesting that you need a radiator flush, and you know it’s been years or over 50,000 miles since it was last flushed, take the precaution to have it done now to prevent future issues.

Need a radiator flush in Hickory NC? Visit us at Country Town Tire and Auto Service Center. We are a full-service auto shop with ASE-qualified mechanics. Give us a call today!