Is it Time to Buy a New Car Radiator?

The radiator keeps the engine cool and prevents overheating, but due to either poor maintenance or simple wear and tear, this cooling system can breakdown. So how exactly do you know if you should already replace your radiator? A good rule of thumb is to replace it every five years so you won't have any trouble in the near future.

However, you should also check for leaks since experts say that what really affects the lifespan of the radiator has something to do with the leaks. Road debris, inclement weather conditions, and humidity can cause radiators to rust and eventually leak. According to Denise Spooner, an eHow.com contributor, the presence of neon-colored, slimy fluid beneath your car is a sign of a leak.

Aside from the actual presence of radiator fluid, Spooner says that gurgling sounds indicate the presence of radiator leaks. Additionally, when you see white bellowing smoke coming out, that could be a sign that the fluid has spilled on hot surfaces such as valve covers. If you notice any of the aforementioned signs, don't wait until your car overheats; rather, get a new car radiator right away. You'll have more peace of mind knowing that everything is functioning well every time you hit the road.

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Keeping Your Car Cool

The latest accessories and gadgets may make your car look hip and cool to others. Unfortunately, some of these devices may not even be functional and only add to your maintenance expenses. Decorative bumpers are a case in point.

On the other hand, certain car parts literally make your car cool, such as the radiator. Your car's engine is made up of numerous moving parts that generate a lot of heat—a reality that makes making a cooling system such as a radiator an absolute essential. Without such a cooling system in place, your car will keep in overheating and likely to break down at the most inopportune times and places.

Fuel may make your car run, but only a well-conditioned radiator will make it run smoothly without any trouble. As such, by properly maintaining your car's radiator, you'll have a more pleasant ride anywhere you go. At some point, however, your car's radiator is bound to break down for good and will need to be replaced.

The good news is that you can now order a new radiator and other replacement parts online. You can then have them installed by a reputable mechanic at a nearby auto shop. Your new radiator should also come with the necessary warranty.

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Basic Maintenance Tips for Car Radiators

Like every component in your car's engine, you need to keep your radiator well-maintained at all times; otherwise, you risk running into severe wear and tear issues as well as irreparable damage. The radiator is an especially crucial important of your car's cooling system since it regulates the flow of water and coolant throughout the engine to keep it cool even during the toughest moments. Taking care of your radiator is possible by performing routine maintenance checks, although it shouldn't stop there.

For one thing, a radiator must always use the right kind of radiator fluid (a mixture of coolant and water) depending on your expected driving conditions. For instance, when driving in cold weather, you'll need a 70:30 coolant to water ratio for the obvious purpose of preventing the engine from freezing. Meanwhile, under normal conditions, radiator fluid with a 50:50 ratio should suffice.

Additionally, the fluid must always be kept at optimum levels (a.k.a. “topped up”), although what is rightfully considered optimum may require a mechanic's professional advice. In any case, keep in mind that a radiator can only be safely topped up when the engine has cooled down completely. An infrared scan may be required to check for any clogs and leaks, or else the fluid may not circulate properly.

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How to Maintain Your Car's Radiator

Just as a hot-headed person often gets into trouble, so too does a car develop problems when the engine starts to overheat. You certainly wouldn't want your car to overheat while driving in the middle of a busy road or a remote area where there's no access to emergency repair. The key to keeping cool is to maintain your car's radiator in top condition before hitting the road.

The radiator is a type of heat exchanger designed to transfer away heat produced by the engine and thereby prevent any component from breaking down or burning out. Despite the name, this component does not transfer heat by thermal radiation but rather by convection. Heat is transferred by the coolant flowing through the system. As such, it is extremely important to have a sufficient amount of engine coolant every time you drive.

Meanwhile, regular inspection will let you know whether the hose connected to your coolant needs to be replaced by a bigger one. The larger the tube, the more heat can be exchanged, thus preventing the chances of overheating. You may also consider replacing the auto compressor as necessary to make sure a sufficient amount of coolant is being pumped in and out of the system.

Likewise, don't forget to put antifreeze to prevent damage whenever the radiator is not at work. Antifreeze also helps other components from corroding.

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Car Radiators: A Few Preventive Maintenance Basics

Driving your car along a well-paved country road in sunny weather can be an exhilarating experience. Yet what if your car were to break down in the middle of nowhere because of an overheated radiator tank? All your positive feelings are bound to turn into panic and annoyance, more so if you don't have any means to remedy the situation.

A damaged car radiator is certainly not easy to fix, unless the problem merely has to do with a busted hose and you have a spare handy. In any case, you can certainly avoid going through such a predicament by observing basic maintenance requirements. After all, it is never enough that you know how to drive; you must also learn how different car parts function in relation to each other, and how to keep them in good condition.

Before traveling, conduct a thorough pressure test of the entire cooling system, particularly checking for possible sources of coolant leaks. Likewise, pay attention to the fan as a faulty fan clutch or shroud can significantly reduce the fan's cooling power. Finally, check the radiator itself for possible leaks as well as internal and external clogging. You may need to backflush or even refill the cooling system, depending on its condition.

You can also ask your trusted mechanic for more on DIY radiator maintenance. Whether you opt to do it yourself or entrust the task to a professional, timely radiator inspection and maintenance will certainly help you reach your destination in one piece.

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Keeping the Cool: Assessing Car Radiator Damage

The radiator has the humble (but very important) job of cooling down a car's engine. Without it, the system will be prone to overheating and massive internal damage could follow. Thus, motorists should know how to diagnose their automobile if they suspect that its radiator has been compromised.

Radiator malfunctions could be be the result of a powerful impact to the engine, the radiator itself being rusted or cracked, or from a leaking hose somewhere down the line. Reusing old coolant may also destroy radiators from within. One of the most basic methods of determining radiator condition is to check a vehicle's on-board thermometer, which is located on the dashboard. If the needle points towards “H” every time the engine is on, then it means the radiator is unable to properly cool the engine.

Motorists are advised to stop using their cars should they detect a broken radiator; this will prevent the engine from suffering damage from high heat. The broken radiators should be replaced as soon as possible in order to bring back the automobiles to working condition. It would be wise for car owners to hire a mechanic who could install a new radiator so that they don't have to go through the mess themselves.

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