No - It doesn't. You never want to find yourself broken down on the freeway with steam pouring from under the bonnet of your car.

It is not just the hot days that contribute to a car passing the boiling point. Your engine produces a significant amount of heat all on it's own, under normal operation and regardless of the outside temperature. Your car's cooling system is specifically designed to protect you and your car from all that heat. Coolant is added to your system to facilitate this task and also prevent liquids from freezing. Coolant also helps protect the entire cooling system and it's components from corrosion.

As well as an overheating car, a temperature gauge that's reading hotter than normal or a car leaving puddles behind means it is probably best to have your cooling system checked over by a professional.

And we can service your cooling system and flush your radiator. Our fully trained team of experts will flush your cooling system, using a solution that removes build up. When the cooling system is clean, the solution is removed and fresh new coolant is added, your car's cooling system will be running like a dream: a radiator flush might be just what your car needs to bring it back to peak performance.

Your radiator will function more effectively, increasing your engines overall efficiency and add a boost to performance and power. The water pump and other cooling system components will last longer due to better protection and lubrication.

Your car maker's log book makes recommendations for how often to service your cooling system, It is generally advised that you flush your coolant system every two years or 40,000 km's depending on which comes first. However, your engine type and size, local weather type, the quality of your current coolant, and the total distance driven will all affect how regularly you should completely replace the coolant in your radiator.

At Brighton Tyre & Auto Centre, at your request we will perform a full 65 Point Vehicle Inspection Report for free as part of any minor, major or log book service on your vehicle. This includes inspecting the coolant and cooling system and the written report will tell you if we feel a radiator flush, coolant replacement or any repairs are advised to maintain the safety and performance of your vehicle.

While there are many websites offering advice on how to flush a radiator yourself - but we don't recommend it. Modern vehicles are quite complex and simple mistakes like incomplete flushing or changing the type of coolant in your vehicle without proper flushing can cause problems, including stirring up even more sediment, which cause blockages in your thermostat or radiator.

It's much more sensible to have your systems checked regularly by a qualified mechanic, and properly flushed before being refilled with the recommended coolant type, the system purged of any air pockets, and then the whole system professionally tested again to ensure full working order and to prevent any costly breakdowns in the future.

Radiator coolant is toxic and needs to be handled very carefully. It smells sweet which can be appealing to children and pets so proper storage is very important - letting a professional take care of this task means not handling or having dangerous chemicals around your house. Coolant also needs to be disposed of in the proper manner to prevent harm to the environment and professional workshops like Brighton Tyre & Auto Centre can have the coolant recycled or properly disposed of in a safe way.