#6 Things I wish I had taught my son... And still can
Sep/03/2008 07:26 AM Filed in: Car-Related | Life Lessons
Handle this advice with care... Because it's hot!
Some people learn this lesson the hard way, the excruciatingly painful way, and some of the damage it causes is irreparable. Sooner then later you and/or one of your friends will be driving down the highway and the car will heat up. This (in case you didn't know) will destroy the vehicle if you continue to drive this way for an extended time, melting all the meltable parts that lie deep inside the engine. So lets say you decide to pull over at a gas station and drop in the obligatory quarter or 50¢ for water into the Air/Water machine. You and your friend pop the hood of the car (once you finally find out how to do that). And both of you debate on what needs to be done.
Meanwhile the car is making strange noises. It's angry. And the pressure is building under the radiator cap. What do you do?
First of all, you don't try to unscrew the radiator cap. If you do, once you turn the cap all the pent up highly pressurized steaming and scalding water mixed with anti-freeze will shoot out at you and burn your skin. I know several people that today still carry scars from a similar incident. Most of the time, if you shut off the car the pressure will continue to build for a while. So don't trust it then either. Opening the cap then will also end up in disaster. Only time will cool the car down.
So what do you do?
You pour the water over the outside of the radiator. In the front of the radiator, On the top and sides. Do this liberally and don't rush it. What this will do is regulate the temperature and allow all the hot water to cool down a bit. Either way... It would be wise to turn the car off and let it cool down for several hours if that is an option.
Most, if not all cars, have a reserve bin where water is stored. You should check that bin to make sure it reads "full". It has a suggested level for when the car is cold and for when it is hot. This water leaves the reserve bin (is siphoned out) during the course of the vehicle's operation. The water's role is to cool the engine, return to the radiator to be cooled by the air generated from the velocity of the vehicle and by the fan. It then cycles back to the engine. Overheating happens when this cycle is interrupted either by a lack of water or because a little regulator called the thermostat is no longer working properly.
Ouch,
Your papi
PS: Are you writing questions down while reading your assignments. Don't blow this advice off. It'll make a difference.
Some people learn this lesson the hard way, the excruciatingly painful way, and some of the damage it causes is irreparable. Sooner then later you and/or one of your friends will be driving down the highway and the car will heat up. This (in case you didn't know) will destroy the vehicle if you continue to drive this way for an extended time, melting all the meltable parts that lie deep inside the engine. So lets say you decide to pull over at a gas station and drop in the obligatory quarter or 50¢ for water into the Air/Water machine. You and your friend pop the hood of the car (once you finally find out how to do that). And both of you debate on what needs to be done.
Meanwhile the car is making strange noises. It's angry. And the pressure is building under the radiator cap. What do you do?
First of all, you don't try to unscrew the radiator cap. If you do, once you turn the cap all the pent up highly pressurized steaming and scalding water mixed with anti-freeze will shoot out at you and burn your skin. I know several people that today still carry scars from a similar incident. Most of the time, if you shut off the car the pressure will continue to build for a while. So don't trust it then either. Opening the cap then will also end up in disaster. Only time will cool the car down.
So what do you do?
You pour the water over the outside of the radiator. In the front of the radiator, On the top and sides. Do this liberally and don't rush it. What this will do is regulate the temperature and allow all the hot water to cool down a bit. Either way... It would be wise to turn the car off and let it cool down for several hours if that is an option.
Most, if not all cars, have a reserve bin where water is stored. You should check that bin to make sure it reads "full". It has a suggested level for when the car is cold and for when it is hot. This water leaves the reserve bin (is siphoned out) during the course of the vehicle's operation. The water's role is to cool the engine, return to the radiator to be cooled by the air generated from the velocity of the vehicle and by the fan. It then cycles back to the engine. Overheating happens when this cycle is interrupted either by a lack of water or because a little regulator called the thermostat is no longer working properly.
Ouch,
Your papi
PS: Are you writing questions down while reading your assignments. Don't blow this advice off. It'll make a difference.