Your automobile relies on the radiator to store and cool off the coolant. This keeps the engine’s temperature within the normal range. The average lifespan of a radiator varies between three years and 10 years. In some cases, the radiator can last longer than 10 years. Thankfully, the radiator will give you some signs that it is too old and it needs to be replaced. Here are the signs.
The radiator can start leaking engine coolant if it is corroded. The radiator is metal and the coolant is liquid. This is a bad combination in the long run. Eventually, the liquid will corrode the metal and the corrosion will eat through the bottom of the radiator. Consequently, you will end up with a puddle or spots of coolant on the garage floor depending on the severity of the leak.
If you look at the coolant, you may be able to see the rust that is in it. There may be metal flakes in the coolant or the coolant may look orange. Either way, you need to replace the radiator because the corrosion is damaging it. In addition, the corrosion can be circulated through the cooling system and damage or clog the cooling system, including the radiator hoses.
The radiator can also get damaged by road debris. Specifically, anything that is large enough to fit through the grille can pelt the radiator mercilessly. In some cases, this will cause damage to the radiator fins and inhibit airflow through the radiator. The fins are not something that can be replaced independently. Unfortunately, the radiator must be replaced if the fins are damaged.
Finally, all of the above will cause your engine to overheat when it is running. Unfortunately, you should not drive your automobile if the engine is overheating. Excess heat can blow the head gasket or crack the cylinder block. It can also crack the exhaust manifold. As such, we recommend that you play it safe and call for a tow truck to bring your automobile to our shop.
We are here to help you with all of your automotive service and repair needs. This includes the radiator. Give us a call today to schedule a service appointment so we can inspect the cooling system. We will take a good look at the radiator and advise if it needs to be replaced.
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An automobile engine wastes a lot of energy in the form of heat. Left unchecked, that heat can build up and start damaging not only the engine itself, but the surrounding parts. It's important, then, that temperature of your car's engine be kept below a certain level. That job falls to the coolant system, which pumps coolant -- usually water mixed with ethylene glycol (aka antifreeze) -- through the engine to absorb the heat. Once it becomes heated, the water is circulated back to the radiator, where the heat is transferred to the cooling fins and radiated into the air. This cools the water and antifreeze mixture, which can then repeat its journey through the engine.
Without a radiator to remove the heat from the coolant, your car would quickly overheat and the engine would begin to destroy itself. So having a working radiator in your car is essential to the vehicle's proper operation. But how long can you expect your radiator to continue doing its job? Most auto mechanics feel that a properly maintained radiator should last for at least eight to 10 years. Older metal radiators, when well maintained, can last for the life of the car, but modern radiators are mostly made from plastic rather than metal, and plastic expands and contracts as the radiator heats and cools. Over time this leads to cracks, though it's rare for this to happen in less than a decade.
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To achieve the maximum lifetime for your radiator, it's important to have the coolant system flushed out as often as your car's manual suggests, so that the water and antifreeze mixture continues to flow properly. And, of course, make sure that the radiator always contains the proper level of coolant, since coolant can escape when the radiator overheats. If you frequently find that the level of coolant is too low it may mean that you have a leak. Take the car to a mechanic to have a look at your cooling system.
Other potential problems include rusty hose clamps, corrosion to the aluminum core and problems with the thermostat that regulates coolant flow. Thermostat problems will cause frequent overheating, which is a problem you should have checked out as quickly as possible.
Take good care of your radiator and it should be with you for quite a long time -- maybe even the entire life of your car.
For more information about radiators and other related topics, follow the links on the next page.
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