Auto Radiator Repair Service

As you’re driving, you’re probably not worried about your vehicle overheating and shutting down all of a sudden. This is good, as you shouldn’t have to worry about all the moving parts of your vehicle that keep you moving on the road. But, there’s a big difference between not thinking about the core components of your vehicle and neglecting important tune-up services.

One especially crucial element of your vehicle is the radiator. Routine auto radiator repair service and tune-ups can be the defining factor between a healthy vehicle and an overheated piece of scrap metal on the side of the road.

What Does a Radiator Do?

A radiator helps eliminate excess heat from a vehicle’s engine. As part of the engine’s cooling system – which also includes liquid coolant, hoses to circulate the coolant, a fan, and a thermostat to monitor the coolant temperature – the radiator is the central component of a vehicle’s cooling system.

What Happens If I Neglect Radiator Repair?

Failing to keep up with routine auto radiator repair service means your vehicle’s engine will overheat and eventually shut down. Some of the core issues that arise as your vehicle’s engine begins to overheat include:

• Thermostat Issues. As a radiator stops working correctly, an excessive amount of pressure is put on the thermostat (which, when working properly, triggers coolant to be released into the engine), generally causing it to stop functioning. This results in a lack of coolant making it to your engine, and your engine eventually overheating.
• Leaking. As a vehicle’s radiator goes out, a common occurrence is for cooling systems to malfunction, which will cause coolant levels to drop. When a vehicle has a deficient amount of coolant, heat can’t be handled properly, and the engine will overheat.
• Water Pump. If a radiator breaks, rough debris coming from the radiator may eventually damage the water pump. Also, if the radiator malfunctions and ceases to cool the fluid before it flows past the impeller, the hot temperatures can damage plastic parts.

How Often Do I Need a Radiator Tune-Up?

The most common problem with your engine’s radiator is a leak. A leak is obvious enough to detect and can usually be fixed quite easily. If you find any engine coolant/antifreeze leaking from your engine, have your vehicle inspected for any leaks or damaged radiator hoses.

When you have your engine flushed or your antifreeze changed, you should have your radiator inspected. Your antifreeze should be changed every two years or 30,000 miles.