The Most Common Radiator Problems
As with the human body, excessive heat can cause your car engine to shut down. Fortunately, cars keep their cool with the help of the radiator, a series of chambers where heated coolant passes through to be cooled off by a fan. Of course, problems with the radiator hamper its ability to maintain optimal engine temperature and your car will suffer for it. If you don’t address these common radiator issues, you might end up buying a new radiator for your vehicle.
Rusting
Your radiator is made of metal and exposure to things like road debris, humidity, and salts will cause it to oxidize, a process more commonly known as rusting. Rust slowly eats away at your radiator until it completely breaks down. Avoid this by flushing the radiator every now and then to remove rust build up within it.
Leaky Radiator Hoses
Radiator hoses allow coolant to travel from your engine to the radiator where it’s cooled off. However, these hoses often leak causing coolant to escape and your engine temperature to escalate. To be safe, make sure to replace radiator hoses periodically even if they seem to be working fine.
Faulty Pressure Cap
Ideally, your pressure cap should blow if your engine runs too hot, thus alerting you to overheating. If it’s faulty, however, it will remain intact and your radiator (and engine) will be damaged by the excessive heat.