A radiator is a crucial part of your vehicle’s cooling system that helps keep its engine running at the right temperature. Problems with the radiator can result in your car overheating, or worse: costly engine damage. While you should leave all radiator repairs to the pros, you can fix some simple problems yourself. This article will take a closer look at some of the most common radiator issues, and you can fix or temporarily repair them yourself.
Leaking radiator is the most common defect. You can typically identify that by seeing fluid under the front of the car. If the level of fluid in your coolant reservoir goes down, you probably have a radiator leak. However, in the case of a small leak, the level might remain normal. In that case, your best bet to identify a leak is to look for an oily residue in the vicinity of the radiator hoses or heater hoses. Finally, lots of newer cars use orange radiator coolant instead of the green fluid used in older vehicles.
Look for leaks:
Check for obvious signs of leaks, such as wet spots or stains on the radiator or hoses.
Use a screwdriver for tightening any loose hose clamps you come across.
Another way to solve small leaks is by using a type of Radiator sealant. These type of sealant is exclusively designed to be placed in to the system to quickly seal off any small holes that are causing the coolant leak. Most repair shops should have access to these type of sealant. The coolant dye is added into the coolant. It will work its way through the system and when coolant starts spraying out of a hole the dye will follow it. The dye is only a temporary repair and it must be replaced with a permanent repair.
In the event of it continuing to leak, you may have to further replace the damaged hoses, radiator cap, or even the radiator itself. Several factors, like a breakdown of the radiator fan, a malfunctioning thermostat, or a chocked radiator, can be responsible if your car overheats frequently.
Check the radiator fan:
Look to see if the radiator fan turns on when the engine heats up. If not, the radiator fan may need to be replaced.
Check the Thermostat:
A thermostat that’s stuck in the closed position will result in overheating. Replace if necessary.
One of the first things you should do when you’re troubleshooting your Honda Civic’s cooling system is to clean the radiator. It’s very common for dirt and debris to build up between the air conditioning condenser and the radiator. Over time, this debris can easily reduce your radiator’s cooling effectiveness. Smartly clean this area with a brush, or a little compressed air.
Keep Coolant Topped Up:
Always check your owner’s manual for the best coolant to use in your car and the proper mix of antifreeze and water. The radiator should always be filled to the top with coolant.
Coolant Level:
Regularly inspect the radiator coolant level, and top it off if necessary. If the coolant level continues to drop, there may be a hidden leak. Revisit our steps for dealing with radiator leaks.
Your radiator actually can start to corrode from within which lessens the life expectancy.
The regular flushing of the system and adding rust inhibitors are two necessary precautionary actions according to manufacturer's suggestions to help avoid problems. Some technicians suggest checking the quality of your antifreeze annually. If you've changed the coolant yourself during a freeze season you'll be aware that doing the task is certainly not fun.
If rust is a concern, think about doing a radiator flush to eliminate built-up debris and old coolant.
Radiator Protection:
There are some products available that can be installed in the coolant that can either slow down or stop corrosion from reproducing.
Unusual sounds coming from your radiator, such as hissing or banging, might indicate a problem.
Remove air bubbles from the cooling system. Air pockets can cause strange noises and may cause overheating proper functionality of the vehicles cooling system. These air pockets can always be removed by taking the small radiator cap off and filling until the excess spills out. The vehicle can be run at an idle and the air will bleed out of the cooling system on its own. The coolant reservoir bottle is located to the right of the engine and can be used to verify the coolant level.
Inspect for Loose Parts:
Vibration or clanging due to loose or damaged parts.
As you work on your radiator, remember the most basic rule of auto maintenance: Be careful. Never work on your cooling system while the engine is at operating temperature. Be especially careful with your hands near belts and fans. Take your time, make sure things are cool and try to think logical ly and intuitive ly about what you are doing.
If you find that one of your car radiator problems does call for professional repair, read this article on how to find a good mechanic. Good ones are out there. If you can't handle it on your own, the sooner you get it into the shop, the less expensive the repairs.