Let’s talk about the radiator in this blog post. This is one of the most important parts of the cooling system. Without a radiator, your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s engine would overheat. The radiator and the entire cooling system need to be flushed every 30,000 miles. It also needs to be checked for leaks. This is just one thing you need to know about the radiator. Here are other things.
About the Radiator
The location of the radiator both helps and hurts it. You will find the radiator directly behind the grille in the front of the engine. This helps the radiator keep the coolant cold because it uses the air that flows through the grille to reduce the coolant temperature. It hurts the radiator because it gets pelted with road debris. It can also hurt the radiator if you get into a rear-end collision.
The radiator does two things. First, it stores the coolant until it is needed. Second, it reduces the coolant temperature once it has circulated through the engine. The radiator uses the outside air and a fan to help it keep the engine coolant cold. The average lifespan of a radiator is anywhere from three years to 10 years. It depends on how well you care for the radiator and the cooling system.
Radiator Replacement
The radiator is a part that usually needs to be replaced if something goes wrong. It is a singular unit, and, generally, the most common problem for the radiator is corrosion. Because the radiator is made of metal and it stores coolant, the inside of the radiator can rust easily. When this happens, the rust can be transported through the cooling system. A rusty radiator needs to be replaced.
In addition, the rust can eat through the radiator and cause a coolant leak. Unfortunately, as the coolant leaks out of the radiator, your engine will overheat. This, too, is a sign that the radiator needs to be replaced. The radiator will also need to be replaced if the air inlets get damaged by road debris. Again, this is a singular unit and if something gets damaged, the entire thing needs to be replaced.
We are here to help, however, so give us a call today. If you suspect that there is a problem with your vehicle’s radiator, we will schedule an appointment for a cooling system inspection.
