2. The cooling system should be checked when the engine is cold, so it is best to do this before the first trip of the day or no earlier than three hours after turning off the engine.
3. Slowly, being careful in case the engine is not completely cool, remove the radiator cap. Rinse it thoroughly inside and out with clean water. Also flush the radiator filler neck. The presence of traces of corrosion in the filler neck means that the coolant should be replaced (see section Replacing the fuel filter). The coolant inside the radiator should be relatively clean and transparent. If it is brownish in color, drain the system and refill with new coolant.
Hoses, as well as drive belts, have a tendency to fail at the most inopportune moment - to avoid troubles associated with a ruptured radiator or heater hose, carefully inspect them as shown in the figure.
4. Carefully check the radiator hoses, as well as the heater hoses, which have a smaller diameter. Inspect the entire length of the cooling system hoses, replacing any cracked, bulging or worn hose. Cracks can be more easily detected by squeezing the hose with your hand. Pay special attention to the clamps that hold the hoses to the cooling system components. These clamps can cut or puncture the hoses, causing coolant to leak.
5. Make sure all hose connections are securely fastened. Coolant leaks typically appear as white or rust colored deposits in the area of the seal failure. If your vehicle uses wire type clamps, it may make sense to replace them with screw type clamps.
6. Using compressed air or a soft brush, clean the front of the radiator (and also the air conditioner condenser, where available). Remove any insects, leaves or other foreign objects that may have fallen onto the radiator fins. Be very careful not to damage the ribs or cut your fingers on them.
7. If the coolant level is constantly dropping and you have not found any leaks, you should pressure test the radiator cap and the entire cooling system.
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