On Purchasing a Replacement Car Radiator After Serious Overheating

Radiators are essential components of any automobile. Without them, engines would break down from all the heat they generate. Coolant leakage and damage to the radiator can seriously impair the component’s function, increasing the risk of overheating. If the part sustains too much damage, motorists will have to replace their car radiator with an entirely new one.

They will also have to do this, as, over time, radiators risk losing their effectiveness and endangering the rest of an automobile’s engine. The hose that feeds liquid coolant from the radiator to the engine can deteriorate with age, causing leaks. Radiators that are heavily corroded are also in danger of leakage, and of reduced performance due to rust. In general, a damaged radiator shouldn’t be left in a car, and should be immediately and completely replaced by a convenient radiator shop like Radiator.com.

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Buying the Right Kind of Radiator from an Online Shop

Nowadays you can shop online for just about anything, including a replacement radiator. However, the radiator shop might show you an array of replacement choices in spite of searching based on criteria. As a shortcut, try to find a radiator with the following qualities: 

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Fixing a Leaky Plastic Radiator

With the right tools, fixing a leaky plastic radiator is an easy way to remedy radiator issues while waiting for a replacement radiator to arrive. The first step, of course, is to locate the source of the leak.

The most obvious sign of a leak is steam erupting from a certain area on the radiator. If you don’t notice anything of this sort, wash the radiator and the hoses clean, fill the radiator up and wait for it to dry, then start the engine. Pressure buildup in the system will make leaks appear as wet spots on the radiator.

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How to Buy a New Radiator

According J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study, reliability of small and compact cars are up 5% industry wide, meaning car owners are less likely to bump into trouble. Of course, advances in engine design and engineering have naturally made cars more resilient, which also means greater savings for drivers.

As with all machines though, your car will still encounter problems occasionally, and one of the most common ones are radiator issues. While leaky radiator hoses can be fixed easily enough, bigger problems like extensive cracks or clogged chambers often necessitates getting a new unit. With not enough coolant passing through the radiator, your car engine will quickly overheat, leading to even more damage.

However, buying a new radiator should be done carefully to get the most out of your money. First, make sure to find a reliable radiator shop that carries top-quality and warranted goods for a reasonable price. They should also offer expert installation so your new radiator won’t be damaged by mishandling.

In terms of material, aluminum is now the leading choice since it does not corrode like other metals. Also make sure that the tubing are wide but not too thick so the fan can easily disperse the heat. Speaking of the fan, electric ones are better than mechanical fans since they consume less power.

The radiator is one of the most important parts of your car so take your time when picking a replacement and keep these care tips in mind.

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Hallmarks of a Good Online Radiator Shop

Many radiator suppliers have set up online shops in an attempt to reach a wider range of potential clients. Unfortunately, the sheer number of online stores can make it difficult for people to choose which online radiator shop to patronize.

If you are having difficulty choosing a store, try to choose one that offers the following:

Brand-Specific Radiators

The best radiator shops will always carry brand- and model-specific radiators instead of generic ones. They are also less likely to simply reshape a radiator to fit your vehicle. Brand-specific radiators are much more important if you are searching for a radiator for an older vehicle.

Lifetime Warranty

The biggest disadvantage of purchasing a radiator online is that you cannot be on-site to inspect the radiator yourself before purchasing it. This disadvantage is the reason why you should look for an online radiator shop that offers lifetime warranties.

Same-Day Delivery

Many online shops will tell you that they can have your new radiator delivered to you by the next day, but why wait so long? Some online radiator shops can deliver your new radiator on the same day you order it, allowing you to get back on the road that much faster.

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Simple Tips For Flushing Your Radiator

When getting your radiator replaced, it's important to look for a radiator shop that can provide you quality products and customer service without compromising your time. However, before you shop online for a new unit, you might want to check first if a radiator flush can fix your problems. This is easy enough to do yourself with a few simple tips:

Step back.

Never forget that radiators are extremely hot while the engine is running, and remain so immediately after the latter is turned off. It is, therefore, important to step back, wait a bit, and let the entire engine cool before even thinking of taking the cap off. Safety first!

Catch the coolant.

Speaking of safety, never let old coolant just drain into the ground or the sewers. Not only is this illegal in some places, it is also extremely dangerous because dogs and little children may accidentally ingest the coolant and get poisoned.

Do the math.

The ratio of coolant and water is important in order to set the balance between efficient cooling and the prevention of rusting and corrosion within the radiator. Generally, 50:50 is a safe ratio to follow, but it may differ depending on specific needs.

A radiator flush is the most important maintenance procedure to keep your radiator running smoothly. If it's not enough and you'll need an actual replacement, however, just be sure to source from the most reliable suppliers.

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Car Safety Tips: How to Open a Radiator

Earlier this year, the famous Hulk Hogan made the news after a terrible radiator accident left his hand a blistered mess that needed immediate medical attention. This is one of the most horrific fates a person can face when working on any vehicle's radiator. If you don't want it to happen to you, here are a few tips to consider:

Wait and get a towel.

When an engine has been running for some time, radiator coolant is not only hot–  it is boiling hot. This is why you should always wait for the engine to sufficiently cool down before even thinking of touching the radiator. In the meantime, just get a towel for added protection.

Don't open it all the way.

If you're still not entirely sure the radiator has cooled down enough, try using the towel to twist the cap a bit. If you observe coolant and steam still trying to escape, close the cap again and resume the wait.

Use the cap as a shield.

Finally, when you do open the radiator all the way, pull the cap toward you so that any escaping steam and coolant will be diverted away from you. Ideally, the radiator will have cooled down already to avoid this entirely; but you can never be too careful.

Since working on a radiator is dangerous business, it is always best to take a few extra precautions along the way. Don't wait to learn the hard way like Hulk Hogan did.

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Troubleshooting a Radiator Cap

Though rarely noticed, your radiator cap plays a critical role in your vehicle's cooling system. They're inexpensive to purchase and takes only mere seconds to replace, so there's no reason for you to not replace a faulty one. Ignoring a radiator cap problem can lead to overheating and even engine damage, which could possibly end up costing you a whole lot more.

How radiator caps work

Radiator caps contain a spring-loaded plunger which maintains the pressure in the cooling system. When pressure becomes too high, the plunger will divert overflowing coolant to a reservoir. As the engine cools down, the coolant condenses, which creates a vacuum that allows the radiator cap to “sip” the antifreeze from the overflow reservoir back into the cooling system.

Diagnosing a faulty cap

A faulty radiator cap will present a few common signs that are typically easy to spot. For instance, a cap that is unable to maintain pressure will allow coolant to boil at normal operating temperatures. This boiling can be easily heard, and confirmed by looking at the overflow reservoir. Coolant spilling around the cap is also a common sign.

Replacing a faulty cap

To replace the cap, simply unscrew the old one and put the new one in. Just make sure that the new cap has the same pressure rating as the old one, and don't remove the cap until the engine is completely cool. Otherwise, you risk getting burned by hot coolant as the cooling system releases pressure.

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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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Keeping It Cool: Why a Well-Maintained Radiator is Crucial to Efficient Vehicle Performance

Unless your car runs on solar power, its engine will always accumulate heat whenever you turn it on. Most vehicles today run on combustion engines that burn fuel. This means that the engine becomes hotter the longer you keep it on, to the point that it could blow up if it weren't for your car's cooling systems.

One such cooling system is the radiator, which keeps your car's engine operating at optimum temperatures while you drive. In particular, the radiator transfers the heat stored in the engine's coolant to the engine's fins so that the heat gets blown away as excess air. Consequently, your car's radiator will typically need a fresh reserve of low-temperature coolant (usually a mixture of water and antifreeze) close at hand at all times.

Provided your car is new, you can expect the radiator to keep running for at least an entire year before it needs to be repaired or replaced. However, the consequences of rolling out with a poorly-conditioned radiator should not be taken lightly. Aside from the fact that your engine can potentially blow up due to excess heat, a faulty radiator can irreparably ruin the engine by way of a coolant leak coolant or the inefficient removal of dirt and grime from the engine's cylinders.

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