You never want to find your car broken down on the freeway with steam pouring from under the hood.

An overheating car isn't just caused by summer weather, your engine gets hot, really hot - and it's the radiator and cooling system that works hard to keep your car, and you, from being damaged by all that heat. A coolant fluid in the system also prevents liquids from freezing and protects the system from rust and corrosion as well.

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

If your vehicle is showing these symptoms come and see the team at Uphill Automotive.

We can service your radiator and cooling system properly. Our fully-trained expert mechanics will properly flush your radiator, using a solution that is designed to remove any build-up. Once the cooling system is clean, the solution is removed and new coolant 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 run more efficiently and have an increased life expectancy.
• Your engine will be more efficient and have an increased life expectancy.
• Boost your vehicles performance and power.
• Lubricate and protect your water pump.

Your vehicle's log book will outline how often to service your cooling system. It is mostly suggested that you have your coolant flushed every two years or 40,000 km, depending on which comes first. However, the size of your engine, regional weather, the condition of your existing coolant, and the total km driven can all have an effect on how often you should replace the coolant in your radiator.

At Uphill Automotive, 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 level and condition of coolant in your system and the written report will tell you if we feel a radiator flush, coolant replacement or any repairs are required to maintain the safety and performance of your vehicle.

With time, rust and scale deposits collect and the whole system becomes choked and it stops being effective at cooling and protecting your car. This build-up of rust and debris can damage components of your cooling system, including your water pump, radiator, hoses and thermostat - this can reduce the lifespan of those parts and leading to expensive repairs or replacements in the future.

While there are a lot of places offering advice on how to flush a radiator yourself - it's not something we recommend. Today's vehicles are complex and mistakes like incomplete flushing or changing the coolant in your vehicle without flushing can push more debris around and cause blockages in your thermostat or radiator. It's best to have your systems examined regularly by a qualified mechanic and properly flushed before being refilled with the right type of coolant, the system purged of any air pockets, and then the whole system tested by an expert again to ensure the full working order and to prevent any costly breakdowns in the future. Radiator coolant is toxic and needs to be handled very carefully. It is also very sweet smelling which can be appealing to your kids and pets so proper storage is very important - having a trained technician take care of this job means not handling or having dangerous chemicals around your house. Dangerous coolant also needs to be disposed of in the proper manner, professional workshops can have the coolant recycled or properly disposed of to save the environment.