Engine radiator

 

The radiator’s job is to keep the engine from overheating. The engine produces heat while it is running. Coolant absorbs this heat, then passes it through the radiator where it is cooled off. The coolant is then circulated back to the engine. The radiator is the main component of the cooling system, so it is important that it is in good working condition.

  • Leaking coolant onto the floor
  • Vehicle overheats
  • Sludge in the radiator – The coolant in your vehicle should be yellow or green or red normally. As the radiator goes bad, contaminants discolor the fluid making it a rusty or oil color. 
  • There may be a leak in the radiator if the coolant level always low or low coolant light comes on.
  • The coolant level could be extremely low, because of long-term neglect or because a leak has developed in the radiator or radiator hoses. Coolant circulates inside the engine block to cool it, and the leak might be in the block, or from the water pump or heater hoses. Old coolant loses its corrosion-inhibiting properties, allowing rust to form and ultimately causing damage.
  • The thermostat that allows coolant to circulate may be stuck in the closed position or a clog may have developed, perhaps from debris in the cooling system.
  • The engine cooling fan has stopped working or the radiator’s cooling fins are clogged with debris so that the air flow that reduces the coolant temperature is restricted.
  • The radiator cap has gone bad and no longer maintains enough pressure in the cooling system, allowing coolant to boil over (engines normally operate at about 210 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • The head gasket that seals the gap between the cylinder head and engine block may have failed, allowing coolant to leak inside the combustion chambers. The steam should be visible coming out of the exhaust system.
  • The water pump has stopped working or the belt that drives it broke or is slipping and not pumping enough coolant.
  • You’ve been towing a 5,000-pound trailer with a vehicle equipped to tow only 2,000 pounds, exceeding the vehicle’s cooling capacity. (You probably also strained the transmission.) 
  • Issue should be addressed immediately. Continuous overheat will cause the vehicle to break down. When this happens, the repair will be much more extensive, so it is a good idea to address the issue as soon as the vehicle starts to overheat.
  • Do not just keep refilling your coolant, take your vehicle to have it properly diagnosed.
  • Checking your engine coolant level in the overflow tank on a regular basis can help avoid disasters.
  • If you have to keep topping off the coolant, that’s an indication of a small leak that should be taken care of before it becomes a major one.
  • Having your coolant tested and the entire system inspected by a mechanic every couple of years is an even better way to prevent cooling system disasters.

References