Cooling 44 A cool customer is a happy customer Combustion engines depend on an efficient cooling system to maintain an optimal operating temperature. The smallest problem with the cooling system function can lead to serious engine damage, running into the thousands. Even vehicle scrappage. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way, as Mike Schlup from Kalimex, pioneer of the K-Seal Coolant Leak Repair brand, explains. The spiralling cost of living is forcing motorists to find costeffective solutions to keep their vehicles on the road. Avoiding expensive vehicle breakdowns is a priority, so dealing with cooling system issues early helps them to keep the lid on their finances. The most common causes of cooling system failure are radiator leaks, block leaks, head and head gasket failures, plus water pump and heater matrix leaks. Encouraging customers to check coolant levels regularly and keep an eye on the temperature is an easy ask. Then it’s about ensuring they report any problems to their trusted technician asap, so all issues are dealt with professionally and effectively before heading into the finance overboard zone. Left unchecked, a poorly functioning cooling system can lead to increased fuel combustion, piston damage, and, in the worst-case scenario, a terminal diagnosis with head gasket or block failure. Quite often, the best solution is to repair the damaged component, whether that’s a leaky radiator, water pump or even a failed head gasket. Some repairs, however, can run into four figures. Because motorists now keep their cars for longer, the cost of repair can in some cases exceed the vehicle’s value. At this point, the workshop or technician can recommend a coolant leak repair additive to help seal the leak internally, without resorting to an engine strip-down. Coolant leak repair products have been around since the invention of the watercooled engine. Stories still abound of motorists cracking eggs into the radiator, using old coffee grounds or industrial chemicals such as sodium silicate in vain bids to seal the leak. Thankfully, things have advanced somewhat, and today standards exist to ensure that modern coolant leak additives perform effectively and safely. A coolant stopleak product should seal where there’s a leak, but it should not block any part of the cooling system. It should also safely mix with any antifreeze or additives already in the cooling system. The standard bearer Two standards exist to control the performance of coolant stop-leak products. ASTM D-3147 covers the requirements for sealing leaks. It also stipulates that a stop-leak product must seal leaks up to 0.63mm in size but must pass through holes of 0.8mm or greater (mesh test) without clogging or gelling. CID A-A-52624A is intended for compatibility testing of antifreeze products. With K-Seal Permanent Coolant Leak Repair, the testing was conducted independently by Brighton University’s Engineering Division. K-Seal was proven to meet the standards and perform as specified. As a time-served technician, you want to recommend the very best stopleak product to customers; one that’s up to the task, independently tested and verified, and minus marketing hype. K-Seal is a global brand, the bestselling multi-purpose coolant leak repair product in the USA. Here in the UK, it’s recommended by nine out of ten motor factors. Fundamentally, the science behind independent testing demonstrates beyond question that an approved product will fix leaks where required, without causing further problems with the cooling system. www.kseal.com
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