Cooling system

If there's too little water and anti-freeze in the cooling system, then the engine can overheat and cause potentially serious damage.

To check the water level, find the expansion tank in the engine. This is usually a plastic container with 'water' or a water symbol clearly marked. If you're not sure what you're looking for, there should be an illustration in the owner's manual. Park on a level surface and wait for the engine to cool. The expansion tank should show that the water level is at the maximum level. If it isn't, you need to add water and anti-freeze.

The mixture you add should be one-third anti-freeze to two-thirds water. Anti-freeze is mainly needed to stop the water freezing in winter. It does, however, also protect the radiator from rust, so it's useful to include all year round.

If you find that you often have to top up the water level, there's probably a leak in the radiator and this will need to be fixed by a professional.