Can You Fix It? Recognizing The Signs Of A Leaky Radiator

Your radiator is one part of your vehicle's larger cooling system, but it is a crucial element. Without a radiator, your car's coolant would be unable to release its heat back into the atmosphere. This inability to dissipate heat would rapidly cause your engine to overheat, potentially resulting in thousands of dollars of internal engine damage. Fortunately, modern radiator failures are not incredibly common, and recognizing the signs that your radiator is in trouble early can help to save you from a disaster in the near future.

 The Three Common Failure Modes

Typically, there are three potential failure modes for a radiator:

• Blockages
• Corrosion resulting in leakage from the radiator itself
• Leaks in gaskets or plastic components

Blockages can clog up the narrow internal pathways in the radiator, resulting in reduced coolant flow and inadequate cooling. This type of failure can be challenging to discover, but it is also uncommon. Blockages usually occur due to coolant that is old and contaminated or through the use of stop-leak products that can gum up coolant pathways.

Leaks are more common, and they generally occur as a result of corrosion or plastic failures. Corrosion on modern radiators is rare, but can sometimes occur through improper coolant usage. For this reason, it is always important to use your manufacturer's recommended coolant type. Patching a corroded radiator is occasionally possible, but they often require replacement.

More commonly, leaks occur on the plastic fittings attached to the inlet and outlet portions of the radiator. These plastic fittings can crack and become brittle, ultimately failing and leaking coolant. The inlet and outlet on your radiator may also use gaskets or o-rings, which can eventually fail. When this happens, repair is usually an option.

Spotting the Signs of Trouble

How can you tell if your radiator is in trouble? A pool of coolant on your garage floor is a good indication that something is wrong, but catching the problem before it progresses to that point is ideal. In general, it's essential to keep an eye on your coolant level. Even if you aren't leaving puddles in your parking spaces, check your coolant level at least once every few months. Be sure always to check only when the engine is cold, as warm coolant is under pressure and can cause serious injury. Never ignore signs of lost coolant, especially if you've recently topped up. If you are losing significant coolant or if your engine temperatures are spiking, avoid driving your car until you have resolved the problem.

What Can You Do?

If your radiator is leaking, then the first step is to determine the source. In some cases, it may be possible to patch small holes or replace leaky o-rings. Thorough flushing can typically solve a blockage, as well. In severe cases, your entire radiator may require replacement, although repair is often possible. Regardless of which remedy is best for your situation, radiator trouble should never be ignored. A few hundred dollars fixing a troublesome radiator can help to ensure that your car stays on the road for years to come.

For more information, contact a radiator repair company.