Cooling System Service Tools

Like most other parts of your car, the cooling system requires certain tools for effective diagnosis and repair. These range from simple funnels and drain pans needed for a coolant change, to unique wrenches and sockets for component removal and installation, and diagnostic tools for finding leaks and checking system performance. These tools are specifically designed for cooling system service, and they can all be found right here on our digital shelves.

Many components that formerly could be removed and installed with ordinary hand tools now require special tools. Some fan clutches are retained with large nuts and require much larger wrenches than you’d ordinarily have in your tool box, and coolant hoses and transmission cooler lines are often retained with couplers that can only be disconnected with special release tools. We offer a large selection of these and many other special tools.

We have an array of testers so you can check coolant condition and concentration including test strips, hydrometers, and refractometers. Coolant is a hazardous waste and ethylene glycol is dangerous to children and animals, so when coolant is drained one of our large capacity drain pans is a must so it can be disposed of properly. We also have a large selection of funnels and fill kits including systems with air bleeder lines to make adding coolant quick and easy. An air lift kit creates a vacuum in the system, eliminating air pockets so the system can be refilled in seconds, and it can also be used to check for leaks.

The source of a coolant leak can be difficult to find, but they won’t elude you if you’re armed with our testers. We have cooling system pressure testers and the necessary adapters needed to attach the tool to different radiators and pressure caps. If the leak is inside the engine, a cylinder leak down tester can be used to pressurize each cylinder. If air bubbles are seen in the coolant, the block or head may be cracked or the head gasket could be blown. And evidence of these defects can also be found if the chemical in a combustion gas tester changes color, indicating the presence of combustion gas in the coolant.

A non-contact infrared thermometer is an invaluable tool for checking cooling system performance. Unlike a traditional thermometer that may not provide accurate measurements due to poor contact, an infrared thermometer measures infrared radiation for instantaneous accurate readings. Us the infrared thermometer to scan the radiator for temperature anomalies that could indicate restrictions, and aim it at the thermostat housing to check the opening temperature. We also offer multi-meters and scan tools for effective diagnosis of electric cooling fan circuits.