American Tire and Service
4520 Arrowhead Ridge Drive, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505.891.8951
Last week I was out running errands in Rio Rancho and my temperature warning light came on – total panic! I pulled over and my car was overheating.
After it cooled down, I went right in to my Rio Rancho service center to have them take a look. My friendly and knowledgeable service advisor told me my water pump was leaking and needed to be replaced. He said water pumps just wear out and that you need to replace them because they pump the coolant that cools the engine.
He told me they checked out my radiator hoses, serpentine belt and tensioner and that they were OK. But I was overdue for changing my coolant – like, embarrassingly overdue. I didn't realize there was a schedule in my vehicle owner's manual for when to change my coolant.
My Rio Rancho service advisor said that the coolant actually becomes corrosive over time and could damage my radiator, head gaskets, intake manifold gaskets, heater core, metal cooling pipes, expansion (frost) plugs, etc. That's why they recommend changing the fluid on schedule.
So, we replaced the coolant with the kind my vehicle manufacturer recommends. I learned there are different kinds of coolant and you need to use the right one. And I was on my way. It feels good knowing my vehicle cooling system is healthy and I don't need to worry about it.
Give American Tire and Service a call.
American Tire and Service
4520 Arrowhead Ridge Drive
Rio Rancho, NM zip code 87124