Beware of Overheating: Common Problems Affecting Old European Cars

BOGOR, KOMPAS.com - Maintaining an old European car can be a source of pride, but there are significant risks if owners neglect minor details. It’s not about complex problems that suddenly arise, but rather simple oversights that often lead to severe engine damage.

Effry, from New Benefit Auto Service in Bogor, explains that the main enemy of European cars is overheating. Many owners fail to carefully monitor the temperature indicator, even though the consequences can be very damaging.

To keep the cooling system optimal, Effry advises owners to always use coolant, not regular water. Using mineral water in European cars, most of which have aluminum radiators, can cause corrosion.

“The radiator is made of aluminum. If it corrodes and leaks, it cannot be repaired for a long time. Also, pay attention to the extra fan. If one fan dies, the temperature will definitely keep rising. Check immediately if the temperature gauge goes past the middle position,” he said.

“Mercedes-Benz recommends changing the oil every 8,000 km, but that’s not suitable for Indonesia. When we’re stuck in traffic, that doesn’t count as mileage, but the engine is still running. It’s safer to change the oil every 5,000 km,” Effry added.

According to him, it’s better to change the oil more often than to risk a noisy engine and damage spreading to other components.

“It usually starts with small things, like being late for an oil change or leaving a water leak unattended. When you’re busy, you might forget, and then it overheats. That’s what often becomes a recurring ‘problem’,” Effry said.

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