WHAT IS A CAR RADIATOR?

Radiators are used for cooling your car’s engine to help avoid problems such as overheating. As a fluid called coolant passes through the engine block, it cools the engine down, losing the heat into the atmosphere by a fan.

WHERE IS A CAR RADIATOR LOCATED?

Your car’s radiator is typically located toward the front of the vehicle next to the engine. The radiator’s job is to keep the engine cool and prevent it from becoming too hot. Radiators consist of many small tubes with cooling fins that allow the coolant to be cooled down and then returned to the engine in a constant cycle. 

HOW DOES A CAR RADIATOR WORK?

Radiators are made of aluminum with thin tubes connected to the component. The coolant flows from the inlet to the outlet through these small tubes. A turbulator, or type of fin, is inserted into the radiator, which helps to increase the turbulence of the fluid flowing though the tubes. Only fluid that actually touches the tubes will be cooled directly. The more turbulence inside the tube, the more all of the fluids mix together.  This keeps the temperature of the fluid that touches the tubes hotter and more heat can be extracted. When the fluid in the radiator heats up, the radiator cap is the only place where the pressure of the heat can escape. Once the temperature of the coolant reaches a certain degree, the cap will start to open allowing heat to escape and the fluid to flow throughout the radiator. 

INDICATORS OF YOUR CAR RADIATOR GOING BAD

One way to recognize if your car’s radiator is failing is to pay attention to the temperature of your car. If you notice that the temperature does not remain stable, then this could indicate that your radiator might need a checkup.  If your vehicle overheats, a faulty radiator could be the cause. Also, if you notice leaks under the part of the vehicle where the radiator is housed, this could be a sign that the water pump is in danger. Coolant leaks are the most common form of diagnosing a bad radiator; so performing a routine maintenance check is beneficial to your vehicle. Part of this maintenance entails regularly checking your coolant fluid.  This helps to ensure that there are not any leaks and allows you to catch problems more quickly. If you notice grinding sounds this could signify a coolant leak as well. When coolant leaks it washes out grease that keeps the components working properly. Without grease, bearings under the hood will overheat and cause a grinding sound to be emitted. As the speed of the engine increases the louder the sound will be, so it is often something that does not go unnoticed. Ignoring this sign can cause the bearings to break and could release the radiator from the vehicle. Coolant fluid is usually a green or yellow color. If a radiator goes bad, rust and other debris can contaminate the fluid leaving it a rusty color. Drips and uncommon noises should not go ignored, because when this happens you could end up spending a large amount of money on repair bills.