With summer gone, give cooling system a tune-up

Summer is over and the start of fall is here. And with National Car Care Month coming in October, this is the perfect time to take advantage of the milder fall weather by popping the hood and winterizing your car.

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A recent survey by the National Car Care Council showed that more than 70 percent of motorists do not winterize their cars in preparation for the colder months ahead. Perhaps that's why cooling-system failure is the No. 1 cause of engine-related roadside breakdowns. But by following these helpful Fall Car Care Tips for your car's cooling system, you'll be ready for whatever old man winter has in store.

1. Flush and fill your cooling system. Performing a routine flush and fill is quick and easy, and it's cheap insurance against engine failure. The National Car Care Council recommends doing this every two years or 24,000 miles for most vehicles. To do the job right, you need to flush the system with a radiator flush product, not just plain water, to remove stubborn rust, grease and sediment.

2. Replace your thermostat. The thermostat controls coolant flow through the engine. If it fails, the engine will overheat.

3. Replace your radiator hoses and hose clamps. Replace any hoses that have brittle, spongy or bulging areas. If the hoses are more than four years old, replace them regardless of their condition. Don't wait until a hose breaks to find out that you were overdue for replacement.

4. Replace your radiator cap. A radiator cap does more than merely prevent antifreeze from sloshing out of your radiator. A properly functioning radiator cap also raises the cooling-system pressure and increases the boiling point of the antifreeze/water mixture by about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This gives your engine added protection against boil-overs. Like the other cooling-system components, radiator caps don't last forever. Replace yours every time you flush and fill your cooling system. Pressure recommendations vary, so be sure to get the right cap for your vehicle.

For more on National Fall Car Care Month, visit www.carcare.org.