A car engine may function properly, despite having a bad radiator. Motorists need to pay attention to the clogged car radiator symptoms in order to keep the performance of the engine smooth and save on expensive repairs.
There are plenty of factors that can cause your car’s radiator to malfunction, including rust and poor quality coolant. The contaminants can make the engine overheat more frequently than normal, particularly when you skip flushing the radiator regularly.
Therefore, read on to know how you can detect a clogged radiator and resolve the issue before it costs you hefty repairs and replacements.
KEY SIGNS OF A BAD RADIATOR
Detailed below are some of the most common bad radiator symptoms that you need to pay attention to and take proactive measures:
ABNORMALLY HIGH GAUGE TEMPERATURE READINGS
The gauge temperature readings move toward the red zone when the engine overheats. This is usually the sign of a bad radiator. New models of vehicles have digital temperature gauges that automatically elicit a warning when the engine’s temperature nears the danger zone.
THICK AND DISCOLORED COOLANT
The coolants in cars are different in the colour that serve different purposes. But if these coolants appear thick in consistency and weirdly discoloured, then its a clogged car radiator symptom. This happens when rust, sludge, and other contaminants mix into the coolant, making it dirty brown. If you come across this appearance of the coolant, know that your radiator has started to suffer the consequences.
DAMAGED RADIATOR FAN
If you’ve ever seen radiators, you would know they have fins – extremely thin and delicate. This is why it is very probable that dents can occur on the fins, causing them to flatten against the radiator. When that happens, it restricts the airflow which hampers the radiator’s ability to keep things cool.
Many factors can cause a faulty radiator fan, including things that hit your car, improper installation, etc.
LEAKING COOLANT
If the coolant is not able to circulate in the radiator when the radiator goes bad, it tends to leak out and sneak to other areas of the vehicle. You can usually detect this by spotting small drops/pools of coolant on the garage floor or beneath the vehicle’s body. When you do, inspect the radiator and see if there are signs of leakage in the assembly.
Other causes of car radiator leak include clogged radiators due to rust build-up that forms cracks, wearing down around the spots. If that’s the case, a thorough flush will not be able to repair the problem. You must see a mechanic to get it repaired as quickly as possible before it becomes bigger and demands an altogether replacement. Besides, you can also fix car radiator leaks on your own, if you are good at using tools and repairing auto parts.
However, make it a point to check for the correct identity of the leaking liquid – many times, it may not be the coolant but another liquid from the car.
DAMAGED WATER PUMP
One of the bad radiator symptoms is when the car water pump gets damaged. The mechanics behind this is that the coolant stops flowing in the water pump if the car radiator is faulty. Consequently, without coolant, metals will start grinding and will make pressure. As a result, it will inflict damage to the water pump. Besides, sometimes replacing the radiator cap can fix problems like leaking coolant, and engine overheating.
WHAT IS THE COST TO REPAIR A CLOGGED RADIATOR?
Ultimately, the cost to repair a bad radiator depends on many factors, including the make, model and year of your vehicle. If the damage is severe and a simple flush does not resolve the problem, then you will likely have to replace it with a new one.
The radiator is a critical component. The engine relies on the radiator to keep it cool and running smooth. Therefore, with a clogged radiator, you are going to run into serious operational problems. Plus, a bad radiator often leads to an overall engine failure if not caught early, which is why it all. Besides, either you buy a used car in the UAE or a new one follow a proper car parts maintenance schedule, to ensure smooth performance of the entire vehicle.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more information about different car parts, its function and repair guides.
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