Hi, my name is Angela, and as the wife of a mechanic, I was constantly tripping over car parts and complaining about the rows of project cars lining our garden. However, after a few years, I quit complaining and actually found joy in the art of auto repair. Inspired by that classic book, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", I decided to start working on cars with my husband. This blog is the culmination of everything I have learned and more. I hope you enjoy reading it and that my tips and ideas guide you toward a healthier car and a happier, safer driving experience.
The radiator is an integral component of your vehicle's engine because it works to reduce or eliminate high levels of heat and cool the whole engine system. This allows your car to operate or function at the perfect temperatures, providing you with a very smooth ride. Therefore, if your car's radiator develops an issue, it could leave you stranded in case your car overheats.
For this reason, it's important to have a basic knowledge on radiator troubleshooting because this can help you save on some money that you'd have otherwise spent on various diagnostics at the auto shop when your radiator seems to have a problem.
One of the major radiator problems is leakage and here are some of the signs that yours is leaking.
Visible Leaking Fluid
This is the easiest way to detect a leaking problem with your vehicle's radiator. Keep an eye on your driveway or garage floor because you could spot a puddle of the leaking fluid, especially when the car has been packed for a while.
This is usually the coolant leaking, and while coolants might be available in an array of colours, a leaking fluid will typically have a slimy, bright green, pink, or orange colour. Therefore, if you experience such signs, your radiator should be checked right away.
Keep in mind that the leaking fluid is usually harmful to people as well as pets because of its toxicity. Therefore, remember to thoroughly clean up the puddles as soon as you can.
Sweet Smell
A sweet smell is also another feature of coolants. The sweet smell is usually the property of a component called antifreeze that's used in many car cooling systems. Therefore, once your vehicle starts and the engine heats up, this sweet smell may be felt if your radiator is leaking the coolant, which then drips on a hot part and burns with that smell.
Drastic Drop in Coolant Levels
Your coolant will drop naturally even when the radiator is not leaking. This is because it's being used for the cooling process and should therefore be replaced with time. However, you should be concerned if the drop is quick or unusual because this is an obvious sign that its leaking somewhere, which is usually the radiator.
Frequent Overheating of Your Engine
The radiator is designed specifically to cool down your engine with the help of the coolant. Therefore, if your radiator is leaking, it will lead to high engine temperatures because the fluid that helps cool the engine, the coolant, is being discharged. A recurrence in engine overheats will indicate a radiator leaking problem.
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