Heating and cooling

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Heating, cooling and overheating: Keep your cool this summer

Airconditioning

If you haven't used the car's air-conditioner since last summer, chances are it might need some attention before the next hot spell. But by preparing now, you can help ensure you and your passengers stay cool when summer arrives.

Ideally the air-conditioner should be run for about ten minutes every week, even during winter, to keep the seals lubricated. When the air-conditioner hasn't been used for a long time, the seals can become dry and crack, resulting in leaking refrigerant.

Switch on your car's air-conditioner; if the air doesn't feel cold on your hands within a few minutes, there could be something wrong with the system, and you should see a VACC Accredited Air-conditioning Specialist to have the system checked.

If the system is leaking gas, it will require more refrigerant. The gas must be totally recovered from the system so that the leak can be fixed. The system is then re-gassed.

There could be other reasons why your air-conditioning system is not working effectively. Perhaps the heating and ventilation controls aren't functioning properly, or there is a problem with the compressor drive belt which helps circulate refrigerant through the system. Either way, an air-conditioning specialist can fix the problem for you.

Most car air-conditioning systems which are more than a few years old contain CFC refrigerant gases, and since the production and importation of CFCs (which are ozone depleting substances) has been banned since the end of last year, your system might require a complete overhaul, known in the industry as a retrofit.

Retrofitting involves the removal of CFC refrigerant and modifying your system so that it can be recharged with a new 'ozone friendly' refrigerant. Various air-conditioning components might also need to be replaced.

The extent to which an air-conditioning system needs modifying will depend on its age and condition. Discuss your options with a VACC Accredited Air-conditioning Specialist.

All VACC Accredited Air-conditioning Specialists are registered with the AACRB (Automotive Air-conditioning Registration Board). Specialists registered with this board are the only people accredited to use and dispose of the old CFC R12 refrigerant gas.

If the air-conditioning system in your vehicle is functioning correctly and no refrigerant leaks are present, retrofitting is not necessary at the moment.

However, if your air-conditioning system uses R12 refrigerant, keep in mind that you will eventually need to have it retrofitted to a new type of refrigerant. If you are having a major service on the system, it might be more economical in the long run to convert it at the same time.

See your nearest VACC Accredited Air-conditioning Specialist for advice on retrofitting or any problem regarding your vehicle's air-conditioning system.

Checking coolant levels

The coolant should be between the "Full" and "Low" marks on the coolant reservoir when the engine is cold. If the coolant is low add sufficient coolant as specified in your owners handbook. Do not overfill your reservoir.

Warning! Never attempt to remove the coolant pressurised cap when the engine is running. Doing so might lead to cooling system and engine damage and could result in serious personal injury from escaping hot coolant or steam. Turn off the engine first and wait until it has cooled. Even if the engine is not operating, do not remove the pressurised cap while the engine and radiator is still hot. Scalding hot coolant and steam may still blow out under pressure, which could cause serious injury.

Defeating overheating

Nothing spoils a holiday like breaking down on the side of the road with an overheating problem. Before departing on holidays, it's important that your vehicle's cooling system is in top condition.

When you consider that combustion temperatures in an engine can reach 2000 degrees Celsius, it's easy to appreciate the importance of a well-maintained cooling system.

Coolant levels should be checked on a regular basis. Many cars now have an overflow bottle with visible maximum/minimum levels, so it's not necessary to remove the radiator cap.
If you ever do need to remove the cap, wait until the engine has cooled down, or you could end up with a face full of boiling coolant.

For maximum radiator life, proper coolants and inhibitors should be used instead of just plain water. Without the right concentration of inhibitor, the radiator and engine components are susceptible to corrosion.

In warmer weather, you should pay extra attention to the temperature gauge on the dashboard, especially when towing a boat or caravan, as the extra load can increase engine temperature.

If you notice the temperature gauge rise to an excessive level, don't keep driving until the car stops, or you could blow a head gasket which will be expensive to repair.

Stop the car as soon as possible and inspect the engine for any obvious problems such as leaking coolant or steam from a radiator hose; make sure the engine has cooled down before you touch anything.

When travelling long distances, it always pays to carry an emergency supply of water and a spare water pump (fan) belt with you for those unexpected emergencies.

If you do need to add water to the radiator, make sure you let the engine cool down sufficiently first. Never fill a hot radiator with cold water, as it could crack the radiator or other engine components.

One of the major causes of an engine overheating is the loss of coolant through external leaks. Coolant levels can also drop if the cylinder head gasket is leaking or there is a crack in the engine castings.

If you think your vehicle's cooling system might have a leak, see a VACC Accredited Radiator Specialist to have the system pressure tested. Hoses, clamps and other fittings should also be visually inspected for leaks.

A good quality radiator cap is also important. If the cap isn't sealing properly or is of the wrong specification, the radiator could be losing coolant through the radiator filler neck.

If you find the radiator constantly needs topping up, or for any other problems you might have with the cooling system, see your nearest VACC Accredited Radiator Specialist.

Issued by VACC, the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce. www.vacc.com.au