A car is a whole system, and if one part of your engine is not working, then there would be a domino effect so having a routine inspection is incredibly important to make sure that your car is working fine and dandy. There are a ton of trusted radiator repair services that you could avail of because it is important that you are fixing your car radiator before it is too late.

What are the main causes of radiator failure?

1. Gunk

When there are mineral deposits in your radiator, you have to remove them to make sure that the “gunk” does not destroy your radiator further. Gunks are the thick and goopy substances that could clog so many things in your radiator, effectively destroying it. This usually happens when your car constantly overheats. You could use a coolant flush to make sure that there are no gunks that are being gathered in your radiator. It helps in flushing all of the gunk out of the car’s system.

2. Overheating

The cooling system is most likely destroyed when you notice that your car is just sitting idle but is overheating. When this happens to you, the main reason would have been a failed radiator fan, so you have to take a better look at that if your car is overheating. Overheating is most likely going to happen when any of your fans (or any part of your radiator) is not working since their job is to keep your car at a normal temperature.

3. Leaks

Leaks are the most common reasons why the radiator would fail. There are some hoses in your car that could leak while your radiator is up and running, creating a lot more pressure making your radiator fail. In order to see the leaks, you have to make sure that there is no green fluid under your car or anywhere near it. If you notice that there is, that is a great sign that the radiator of your car is leaking. In order to avoid this, you have to change the hoses of your radiator regularly.

4. Water pump and thermostat

The radiator is just a small part of your coolant system, so you have to make sure that all of the other parts of the system are functional and clean as well. Those are the water pump and the thermostat. They all work hand-in-hand since the system would not be able to know when you are going to have to release the fluid to cool the system down if the thermostat is not working, and you would not be able to cool down your engine if your water pump is not working. 

5. The radiator is rusty

You have to constantly check your radiator and make sure that it is not rusty because combining air, liquid, and metal is the perfect recipe for disaster. You would be able to notice some holes and leaks when your radiator is rusty, so you could use a radiator cleaner every 2,000 to 30,000 miles, especially if you are living in a cold-weather climate, to make sure that your radiator does not rust.

How long does a repaired radiator last?

When you maintain your radiator properly and make sure that your radiator is well maintained, you could expect it to last 3 years and you could even stretch it for as long as 10 if you have a routine inspection to make sure that it is still working. You would usually get a warranty on your radiator, depending on where you get it from.

What happens when the radiator goes bad?

1. Low Coolant

If you notice that you would constantly have to fill your coolant tank again, then your radiator and your hoses are probably destroyed and you are going to have to replace them.

2. Leaking

You have to go to a mechanic when you notice that there is a puddle forming under your car on what seems to be the coolant, which means that your radiator is leaking.

3. Overheating

Constant overheating of your engine could be the cause of a broken radiator and a great big sign that your radiator is going bad. You have to take care of the problem ASAP when you notice this happening because this could lead to bigger problems.

 

If you notice that there is something wrong, the best thing that you are going to have to do is go to a mechanic and get your car checked to make sure that any part of your car is working properly to avoid any problems in the near future that would jeopardize you and everyone else’s lives.