Do I Need a Coolant Flush?

All About Coolant Flush

Your vehicle has specific measures in place to protect your engine. This responsibility is tasked to your engine’s cooling system and its antifreeze. It’s essential to keep your coolant fresh with your manufacturer’s recommended coolant flushes. Wondering how to know if it’s time for a coolant flush?

High Temperature Gauge and Vehicle Overheating

Your engine coolant main responsibility is keeping your engine temperatures low. If you notice that your temperature gauge is frequently high and your engine is overheating quite a bit, chances are you need a coolant flush. If you allow your engine to overheat, you may have to deal with serious, expensive problems. Protect yourself from this outcome by visiting a mechanic when you first notice temperature issues.

Do you notice a sweet maple syrup smell in your car?

One clear sign that your engine needs a coolant flush is if you notice an engine smell that reminds you of pancakes. Antifreeze contains an ingredient called ethylene glycol that has sweet-smelling properties. When your car burns through coolant, it can put off a scent that reminds drivers of maple syrup or butterscotch candy. While the smell may seem nice, it’s a sign that your engine needs attention from a technician.

Maintenance Schedule, Signs, and Symptoms

These two signs are pretty distinct, while others may be more ambiguous, like unusual engine noise. When you hear an engine noise or notice that something with your vehicle is off, it’s important to bring in your vehicle for service as soon as possible. Here are some other signs to keep an eye out for.

• Leaking fluid -- When antifreeze is leaking, you may notice a blue or orange liquid under where you parked your vehicle. Without normal coolant levels, your engine will quickly overheat.
• Seasonal attention -- Coolant issues can happen at any time of year, but vehicle overheating is most common during the warmer months. Make sure that your car is ready for summer by getting maintenance before your engine has issues.
• Maintenance schedule -- It’s always a good idea to check your owner’s manual. The suggested care for your vehicle is determined by the age, make, and model of your vehicle.

If you still are questioning if you need a coolant flush, bring your vehicle in to Ed Martin Honda. Our professional technicians will be able to advise you and complete the coolant flush if needed.

What is a coolant flush?

Topping off your vehicle’s antifreeze can temporarily solve coolant issues but won’t fix the source of the issue. This is where a coolant flush helps. One of our trained technicians will make sure that your coolant isn’t leaking. Once they confirm that there is not a larger problem, they will remove all of the old, burnt antifreeze.

Our Ed Martin Honda technicians will use professional-grade solutions to get rid of any existing debris, dirt, sludge, rust, and buildup that may be in your engine system. A mechanic will then complete your coolant flush by adding fresh antifreeze to your engine with a conditioner that will help protect it for longer. This process improves the health and protection of your vehicle. You’ll likely notice an immediate boost in engine cooling and performance after this service.

Ed Martin Honda Coolant Flush

If you need a coolant flush, our experts at Ed Martin Honda are here and ready to help you. We proudly serve drivers around the Indianapolis area. Make an appointment online or give us a call to get started today.