Helping your car keep its cool

The summer is tough on cooling systems. As the mercury rises, it is harder for the engine (or electric vehicle propulsion systems) to shed heat. With some newer vehicles, the cooling system capacity is kept deliberately small, because less liquid coolant means less weight - equating to lower carbon dioxide emissions. However, this makes the system less tolerant to leaks, meaning that any level drop is more likely to result in overheating and severe mechanical damage.

Therefore, if you have not done so recently, check the coolant level. On both combustion-engined vehicles and electric vehicles, the coolant is contained within a translucent plastic bottle and should be checked after the vehicle has stood overnight. The picture is taken from an electric Hyundai Ioniq 5, which possesses two separate coolant circuits, the liquid colours within which indicate different chemical compositions.

Should the level require topping-up, never use tap water. This will reduce not just the coolant's freezing point but also its anti-corrosion properties. It can also introduce harmful scale into the system. Again, inspecting and topping-up the coolant must be performed after the vehicle has stood overnight (never with warm running gear), on a level surface.

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