A faulty radiator needs to be replaced right away. Otherwise, your engine may overheat every time that you drive your automobile. When the engine gets too hot, it can damage engine parts such as the cylinder block, the head gasket, and the exhaust manifold. If your vehicle is over 10 years old and you have the original radiator in it, chances are it is going bad. Here are signs that it is.
Coolant Leaks
The older a radiator gets the more rust you will find inside of it. Consequently, this rust eats through the bottom of the radiator and causes coolant to leak out of it. Naturally, leaking coolant is going to make your engine overheat because the level of the coolant will be too low. Even if you add coolant to the cooling system, it will leak out of the bottom of the radiator.
Rusted Radiator
You do not need a coolant leak to determine that the radiator is rusted. Rather, unscrew the radiator cap when your engine is cold and look at the coolant inside. If the coolant is orange or has rust floating in it, the radiator is corroded. A corroded radiator needs to be replaced for two reasons. One, it can corrode the rest of the cooling system. Two, it will start to leak.
Clogged Inlets
Part of what the radiator does is reduce the coolant temperature once it gets hot from circulating through the engine. This makes sure the coolant is cold the next time it circulates through the engine. The radiator uses inlets that allow air to flow over the coolant. Dirt and debris can clog the inlets and render them useless. This makes a new radiator necessary.
Damaged Inlets
Damage to the inlets also makes a new radiator necessary. In addition, you may need a new radiator if the radiator gets damaged by an automobile accident or road debris. The radiator must be intact in order to operate effectively. If there is anything that is compromising it, it is best to replace the radiator to keep your engine’s temperature within the normal range.
Overheating
If the radiator is faulty, your engine will overheat all the time. As we mentioned above, an overheating engine can become a damaged engine very quickly. As such, we recommend that you take action and call our service shop to schedule an appointment for your automobile. We will inspect the radiator and replace it if necessary.
