Debunking the Myths of Your Car Radiator

The fact is that automobile manufacturers take a lot of factors into consideration, including weight, size, heat dissipation qualities, cost and durability. If you are replacing a defective unit then your best bet will always be original equipment (OE) or OE specification. If you are building a high performance vehicle, custom radiators should be considered. These are just a few of the myths debunked in the article; and there are most definitely a few more floating around. However,...

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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...

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Cool Radiator Technology: The Double-safe Radiator Cap

When a car radiator overheats or breaks down, one of the first things to do is check the coolant levels inside the system. However, as the coolant is under significant heat and pressure, you can't just remove the radiator cap and take a peek inside. The radiator cap is, in fact, designed to actually keep the cooling system under pressure, and if you remove it carelessly while the engine is still hot, you face the risk of getting scalded by a steaming geyser of boiling coolant. As...

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Tips to Remember When Removing and Replacing a Faulty Car Radiator

When your mechanic says you need a replacement car radiator, you might be inclined to purchase a used unit to save a few hundred dollars. If you decide to purchase one, be sure to check for rust and signs of corrosion on the interior. Additionally, look for stripped paint as this is a telltale sign of a leaky radiator. If all that seems like too much trouble, you might be better off purchasing a brand new radiator. Fortunately, new car radiators are not as expensive as they used...

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Frequent Overheating Means You Need to Look for New Radiators for Sale

If your coolant level is fine, check for any pinholes or large cracks on your radiator. Pinholes and cracks are normal in older radiators and can be repaired by an experienced mechanic. However, if your radiator has a plastic tank, you might want to start looking for replacement radiators for sale as repairing a plastic radiator is nothing more than a quick fix. When all else fails, it is best that you call a towing service to bring your car to an auto repair shop. Forcing your...

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Purchasing a New Radiator is better than Repairing

The problem is that large cracks only appear in old radiators unless you have had an accident. Having an old radiator means that even if you repair the crack, a new one is likely to form someplace else. It is best to replace a radiator with large or numerous cracks. Discontinued Model If you wake up one day and hear the model of your car has been discontinued, you should set aside time to look for brand new radiators for sale. Although many radiators have a service life of eight...

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Common Signs of Radiator Failure

When it comes to maintaining a car, many people typically do not give much thought to the radiator. However, the radiator is a vital component of any vehicle as it dissipates the intense heat the engine creates. Not properly taking care of it can easily lead to overheating issues and engine damage. As such, regularly maintaining your car radiator, whether by yourself or with the help of a professional mechanic, is a must. Sadly, even the best maintenance practices won’t keep your...

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Keeping Cool: Managing Radiator Coolant Levels

It’s general knowledge that cars combust fuels in order to keep their engines running, yet most people take for granted that automobiles generate a lot of heat as a result. Too much heat in an engine can cause damage, warping parts of the assembly, and wearing down delicate components, such as gears and pistons. To keep cars running smoothly while controlling its heat levels, all vehicles possess a radiator designed to manage engine temperature. Radiators work by pumping liquid coolant through pipes that run through the engine. In theory,...

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Preventing Radiator Problems

It’s easy to forget the condition of a car radiator because of so many car parts to deal with. However, the radiator is critical to your vehicle’s optimum operation and, thus, should never be ignored or taken for granted. Radiators get rid of the heat the engine generates. If they have a problem, the results will be very obvious, not to mention costly. The laws of physics state that heat always moves toward the cold, and this same principle explains how radiators function. A car’s engine creates a tremendous amount of heat during its operation,...

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Car Radiators and Their Functions

A radiator is an integral part of a vehicle’s cooling system. Its main function is to dissipate the heat from the coolant that flows through it so the coolant can, in turn, keep the engine’s temperature at optimum levels. Most modern radiators are made of aluminum, while some are made of copper. Aluminum radiators are produced by brazing aluminum tubes to thin aluminum fins. Manufacturers ensure that their products are 100 percent aluminum to eliminate dissimilar metals and solder bloom problems that come with the copper variety. The majority...

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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...

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Reasons Why Your Radiator is Malfunctioning

An automobile cooling system is composed of several finely tuned machines. If a single component does not function properly, the entire system suffers. While overheating episodes are usually thought to be the fault of the radiator, other components can contribute to the failure of the radiator to properly disperse heat. Failed Water Pump Water pump failure is a common reason for radiator malfunction. The water pump is responsible for generating enough pressure to move the coolant-water-antifreeze mixture from the radiator, through the hose,...

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The Problems with Radiators in Older Vehicles

Though newer models and makes of cars are rolled out each year, this does not mean that older ones are simply disappearing off the face of the earth. In fact, there are a lot of old cars that are still running perfectly today due to proper maintenance. Their owners only face problems when searching for replacement parts when something does go awry. One part of older vehicles that could fall into serious disrepair is the radiator. Corrosion While the coolant circulating inside a radiator has anti-corrosive properties that prevent rusting,...

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Possible Signs of a Broken Radiator Pump

A broken radiator pump is one of the problems your cooling system might experience that could, in a bad scenario, eventually lead you to shop for a new car radiator. This is because a broken pump could lead to dangerous overheating. If you run it too long without addressing the problem, you could also be faced with significantly worse engine problems. Here are a few danger signs of a broken radiator pump: Unusual Sounds No one wants to hear the dreaded clunks, grinds, and squeaks that signify something wrong under the hood of the car....

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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,...

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Frequently Asked Questions about Car Radiators

Cars can be difficult to figure out at times due to all the parts that could potentially encounter problems at any given time. The radiator and cooling system alone can give some drivers a headache, prompting them to ask questions. Here are a few of the common ones: How long should I wait before getting a radiator flush? In a radiator flush, old and dirty coolant is drained from a radiator and replaced with a fresh batch to ensure consistent and efficient cooling. There is generally no concrete rule on when a flush should be performed,...

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Things to Know About Radiator Coolant

Without its cooling system, your car is essentially a chunk of metal that wouldn't go very far before overheating and experiencing serious engine problems. This is why your radiator and the coolant in contains are so important. Here are three valuable questions and answers about radiator coolant: What is it? Coolant actually serves several different purposes for a car, although the two most important functions are to prevent overheating and, interestingly enough, prevent freezing. Coolant is also called “antifreeze” at times, but it really...

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Unusual But Effective Radiator Leak Quick Fixes

When you're out for a drive, the last thing you want to happen is to get a leak in your radiator tank or radiator hoses. Not only is this an inconvenience but it can also potentially lead to overheating and serious engine problems; so the quicker you address the issue, the better. Here are three unusual but effective quick fixes for your radiator: Black pepper If you're having trouble with pinholes or small cracks in the radiator, try pouring in a container of ground pepper into the tank. The pepper will rush into the holes and expand due...

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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...

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On Human Homeostasis and Car Radiators

It is surprising just how many parallels you can draw between the function of the human body and a car's engine. For example, radiators (along with the rest of a car's cooling system) have the crucial function of preventing the engine from overheating, and this can be compared to how a person's body works to maintain constant body temperature. While these two systems are not exactly the same, they are similar in a way. When temperatures become elevated, the human body perspires to cause heat to be drawn away from the skin as the perspiration...

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What does a Car Radiator Do?

In order to understand the function of your car's radiator, knowing the nature of the internal combustion engine that it protects is important. The very nature of internal combustion results in a great deal of heat building up in the metal of the engine block due to hundreds of powerful explosions happening every minute. To avoid problems like overheating and seizure, the engine block should be kept cool. Also, if the pistons are not able to slide freely in their cylinders because of excessive friction, then there is a chance that they will...

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Radiator Flushing: Washing Off Clogs and Residue

While veins and arteries would need medical attention to get the plaque and clots out, a car radiator only needs to get flushed every once in a while. This helps wash down whatever residue could be building up inside. It also gives you a chance to change your coolant and check if you have the right coolant to water ratio. The first thing you should do when planning on doing a flush is to shut the engine down and give it ample time to cools down completely, as steam from the radiator could scald you. Let the engine cool on its own and don't...

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Sure Signs of Car Radiator Problems

Your car's radiator is responsible for keeping its engines from overheating and other mechanical problems. The internal combustion engine's mechanical performance creates friction that ultimately generates heat, something that the radiator has to stave off to prevent frying some of the more sensitive parts of the engine. Hence, it's important to regularly check for these signs that your radiator might not be as efficient as it used to be: Check under your car or below the passenger compartment for dark green or orange puddles as these are signs...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Dissecting the Car's Radiator System

In physics, you learned that any movement results to friction. This principle, of course, applies to your car's engine. The engine has several moving parts and the friction from these parts makes it necessary to pump motor oil into your car's engine to provide much-needed lubrication. Without motor oil, the moving parts that rub against each other will eventually cause them to deteriorate much faster than the normal rate. As you also learned in physics, motion with friction also generates heat, and excess heat cannot be compensated for by motor...

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