Whether you drive a 2017 Lexus IS or an older automobile, your car has a routine maintenance schedule you should follow as closely as possible. As we’ve discussed in previous blog posts, keeping up with your automobile’s routine maintenance is the best way for you to preserve your car’s resale value, protect its working life, and avoid expensive, preventable repairs down the line.
While some new vehicles have what’s referred to as “lifetime coolant,” many motorists will have to change their engine coolant a few times during the time they own their automobile. Engine coolant is normally a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze. This mixture is what protects your car in extreme temperatures and makes sure your engine will turn over when you try to start your automobile when it’s very hot or cold.
Over time, your engine coolant can deteriorate, which limits its ability to cool your car when it’s hot or prevent it from freezing up when it’s cold outside. As engine coolant deteriorates, the liquid often becomes increasingly acidic, which inhibits its ability to prevent rust or corrosion.
If corrosion occurs, it can damage various parts of your cooling system, including the radiator and water pump. To avoid having to pay for costly repairs to your cooling system, you should inspect your engine coolant often to make sure it’s fresh enough to do its job. If the liquid has lost its ability to guard your car from rust or corrosion or it can no longer protect your automobile in extreme temperatures, you should change your engine coolant. You should also have your cooling system flushed at the same time.
If you have more than 30,000-50,000 miles on your odometer and you’ve never had your engine coolant changed, make an appointment to bring your car into our Lexus service center near St. Augustine, FL so we can check your coolant for you. Remember to bring your car into our Lexus dealership regularly thereafter so we can make sure your engine coolant is still able to do everything it’s supposed to. Call Lexus of Orange Park or visit our website to make a service appointment today.
