Amy's Amazing Auto Service and Repair Blog

Is Your Car's Radiator in Trouble?

by Derek Davidson

Despite how crucial your vehicle is for your day-to-day life, a majority of motorists tend to underrate the importance of their vehicle. Considering that you drive your car on almost a daily basis, from work commutes to attending events, you should pay close attention to the state of the components that your vehicle comprises. If any of these auto parts is to malfunction, your entire day can go awry since you will not have the convenience of getting to wherever you want to with your vehicle. One system that needs special attention is the radiator. The radiator has the primary function of keeping your engine from overheating. Thus, if this component is damaged, it is only a matter of time before your engine declines too. Here are a few of the indicators that you may need car radiator repair.

Consistent overheating of your engine

As mentioned above, your radiator is tasked with ensuring that the coolant is distributed efficiently around your engine. When your radiator is in decline, it loses its ability to circulate the coolant, which leads to recurring overheating of your engine. If you start to notice smoking meaning from your bonnet, it is critical to have your mechanic diagnose the issue, as it could mean that your radiator is in trouble. Other issues that could lead to overheating include damaged auxiliary fans or even diminishing coolant, but it is imperative to have a professional establish the cause.

Your engine's temperature gauge is always high

One sign that should alert you to potential radiator problems is when you notice the engine's temperature gauge is always high. If you ignore these temperature spikes, you are allowing the possibility of the possible overheating of your engine, which can lead to a host of other car problems. Although a damaged temperature gauge could also cause it to read high temperatures when there are none, you should still prioritise having your radiator inspected to ensure that it is not damaged.

The coolant is rust-coloured

Fresh coolant should be either bright orange or a bright green colour. If this coolant starts to brown, you should be wary of radiator problems. Radiators are manufactured from metal. If you are not flushing the radiator system on a routine basis, sludge starts to form inside the fluid. Moreover, flecks of metal can collect in the fluid, which will start to scrape off the interior of the radiator tank, which eventually causes the coolant to leak out of the radiator. If you notice puddles of brownish fluid under your car, it means that your radiator is compromised and needs professional attention.

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