5 Early Signs of Radiator Failure in a Car

So, out of the blue, your car engine temperature vaulted up…

Such an occurrence is not normal by any means and usually indicates a problem in the cooling system- most probably with the radiator. This article discusses how a minor glitch in the radiator may lead to engine overheating in a car. As you read through, you will also come across some of the early indicators of radiator failure. Let’s begin by discussing the role radiator plays in keeping the engine temperature stable.

Car Radiator in a Nutshell…

Located at the front section of the engine, radiator is probably the most visible under-the-hood part of any vehicle. This piece of component has so much significance that it determines how a car should look. Narrow aluminum tubes and thin fins are what make up a vehicle’s radiator. As coolant flows through these tubes, it cools by dissipating excess heat to the outside air.

There is a dedicated mechanism in place to facilitate coolant flow to-and-from the radiator. The efficiency of your vehicle’s engine cooling system will reduce drastically if something restricts coolant circulation within the radiator. Knowing when your vehicle’s radiator is giving up can save you great deal of inconvenience. The list below discusses some of the recognizable indicators of radiator failure in a vehicle.

Hints Your Car Radiator Has Given Up

Clue #1- High temp. Gauge reading

The engine temperature gauge, in essence, helps the driver keep track of the engine temperature. If the gauge is displaying high readings, it is a matter of some concern and not something that should be taken for granted. One noteworthy reason why your vehicle’s temperature gauge may read high is a defective radiator.

The radiator, being an integral part of the cooling system, does everything in its capability to keep the engine temperature stable. So, obviously… the engine temperature will shoot up if the radiator is not performing the task it is entrusted with.

Clue #2- Coolant leak

Of late, has your car been leaking a yellowish, reddish, or greenish colored fluid from its front section? The fluid pouring out could be coolant and the leak is probably in the radiator. The radiator, as we’ve already discussed, is made up of a network of thin narrow aluminum tubes.

A crack in one of these tubes may cause the coolant to pour on to the garage floor. Coolant loss of this manner may contribute to engine overheating among other issues. Finding the crack and having it fixed is the only way to prevent the coolant from pouring out.

Clue #3- Coolant discoloration

Coolant, in essence, is a yellowish or greenish colored fluid. As the coolant flows through thin aluminium tubes of the radiator- heat trapped within it gets dissipated to outside air. This process happens again and again in a cyclic manner so that the engine’s temperature can be maintained within a particular range.

During its stay inside the radiator- if the coolant gets exposed to sludge, rust, or other form of deposits- its color will change. This change in coolant color- by the way- is a key indication of radiator-related trouble.

Clue #4- Damaged radiator fins

When was the last time you had your vehicle’s radiator checked? During the inspection, did you notice any form of deformity… damaged tubes or broken fins? If so, don’t ignore it as if nothing happened. Because leaving such an issue unaddressed could lead to expensive repairs.

How so, you asked??? Well, damaged radiator tubes and fins may cause the coolant to pour out- which in turn may contribute to diminished efficiency of the cooling system. This is something that will ultimately affect the overall efficiency of your car engine. So, you better take suitable measures to have the deformity fixed.

Clue #5- Depleted coolant level

If you think your vehicle’s cooling system efficiency has diminished because of a defective radiator, you can check the coolant level for conformation. If there is not enough coolant left in the tank, chances are high that the radiator has a crack somewhere that need to be identified and taken care of.

Bottom Line

To sum things up…

- The radiator is an integral ingredient of a vehicle’s cooling system.

- It is because of this component that your engine temperature never exceeds beyond a certain limit.

- If you don’t want to end up with an overheated engine in the middle of nowhere, ensure the upkeep of your vehicle’s radiator.