If it gets cold enough, the frozen water (since it expands) could crack the block, radiator, or water pump. You need to have the water drained and replaced with a 50% water to 50% antifreeze mixture. This will protect your engine down to -34 degrees Fahrenheit.

If it gets cold enough, the frozen water (since it expands) could crack the block, radiator, or water pump. You need to have the water drained and replaced with a 50% water to 50% antifreeze mixture. This will protect your engine down to -34 degrees Fahrenheit.

Antifreeze is also a coolant and is important in warm as well as cold seasons. Pure water will boil at 212 degrees Fahrenheit and can be corrosive within the engine. Most automotive manufacturers require a 50% water to 50% antifreeze solution all year. The boiling temperature will increase to 226 degrees Fahrenheit with the 50/50 concentration and reduce the likelihood of overheating your engine. Antifreeze also reduces corrosion. Different types of antifreeze exist, so be sure you use the type your vehicle manufacturer recommends and flush as required. Since antifreeze is a hazardous waste, recycle it according to local laws.

A worn head gasket, cracked engine block, or cracked head could cause antifreeze/coolant to enter the oil system. Check to see if you are losing antifreeze over time or if the antifreeze is also contaminated with oil. You can have your truck’s fluids tested at a lab to confirm the diagnosis. Another sign is excessive white smoke coming from the tailpipe. Overheating the engine is the most common cause of failure of the head, engine block, or head gasket.

Water pumps have a built-in “weep” hole. This is a spot that is built into the water pump that signals the vehicle owner when the water pump’s internal seals have failed. When the water pump is leaking from this hole it is time for a replacement.

Be aware that all vehicles, new ones included, may release a little white vapor when cold. This is caused by condensation in a vehicle’s exhaust system. Water dripping from the tailpipe is also fairly common from condensation. However, if your import truck billows out white smoke after it is warm, you may have a problem. White smoke indicates that the engine is burning coolant. This means that coolant is getting into the cylinders and burning with the air-fuel mixture. Another indication of burning coolant would be a low coolant level in the radiator or overflow bottle. A blown head gasket cracked block, or cracked head can cause coolant to leak into the cylinders. To prevent severe engine damage, do not continue to drive your truck. Have a technician look into the problem.

>This sweet smell is probably an indication of a leaky heater core. The heater core is like a little radiator. It is mounted between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. The heater core is used to transfer heat to the inside of the truck when you turn on the heater blower. If it is leaking, it drips in the heater ducts and sometimes on the floor inside the truck. When the blower is turned on, the odor circulates inside the passenger compartment. Check to see if your coolant level is low. Do not open a hot radiator cap. If your coolant gets excessively low, you run the risk of overheating your truck’s engine and causing internal damage. If your coolant level is low, have your local service center perform a cooling system pressure test to find the leak.

Your problem may be the truck’s thermostat. The thermostat controls the circulation of coolant in the engine. If the thermostat is stuck open, the coolant never gets a chance to warm up to the optimal temperature (usually 180 to 195 degrees Fahrenheit). And since the coolant is used to heat the inside of your truck by flowing through the heater core, you only get warm air through the air vents. Also, check to make sure your engine is not low on coolant. If the coolant is low in the engine, air pockets can form. This can lead to a loss of heat in the passenger cabin. A clogged heater core can also cause heater problems. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for coolant flushes to avoid crud being built up in the coolant system. Inoperative heater control valves are also potential problems in getting heat inside the car.

The thermostat is the brain of the cooling system. It senses and controls the temperature of the coolant. When an engine is cold, the thermostat is closed. This keeps the coolant from circulating to the radiator, allowing the engine to warm up to the most efficient operating temperature. Once the engine temperature reaches the thermostat rating, the thermostat opens. When the thermostat opens, the coolant flows to the radiator where it releases heat and circulates back to the engine.