Car radiator

Water cooled radiator is a component of the cooling installation. It is located in the front part of the engine compartment that is cooled by air when driving. Today it is usually made of aluminium. In older cars water cooled radiator is made of brass. Coolant is continuously pumped by the water pump. Thus, the water cooled radiator ensures that the temperature remains within normal range. In order for the cooling to operate even in a stationary vehicle, there is an electric fan which switches automatically at a definite temperature.

When the temperature rises too high, there is a problem with the cooling system. A leak in the water cooled radiator is one of the possible causes. If the coolant flows out, it is often sufficient to replace the gaskets. Small holes can be sealed with special sealing compounds. Water cooled radiator can be easily damaged in the result of an accident as it is located in a crumple zone. Before replacing the radiator, it is necessary to bleed the coolant. It is not difficult to substitute the water cooled radiator, but it will be necessary to disassemble other car parts to reach it.

After the water cooled radiator is installed and connected, it is filled in with new coolant. After this it is necessary to deflate air from the cooling system. Even a non professional mechanic will manage to replace the radiator. Buy cheap car parts in our online shop and you will save if you address to a repair shop. Our Internet shop is a good place to order new side doors, stabilizer, spur wheel, protective pipe, tappet, rod, heat exchanger, washer pump, wiper pull rods or any other spare car part. There is a great assortment of goods in our online store.

How to detect malfunction of the engine cooling system radiator

Inspect the radiator and assess the degree of its fouling - it may require cleaning. Start the engine at idle, then touch the radiator and the bottom pipe with your hand. If their temperatures do not change, the radiator of your car is probably clogged. Check the tanks of the device for leaks, and make sure there is no scale on the tubes of the radiator. More thorough diagnostics can be performed at a service station.

You may notice that the engine cooling system radiator requires diagnostics by the following symptoms:

• antifreeze temperature increases;
• the engine gets overheated;
• pressure in the cooling system increases;
• antifreeze is intensively consumed in the absence of leaks in other components.

Reasons of the motor cooling system radiator malfunctions

The main reason of fouling of the outer surface of the component is the accumulation of road dust, insects and oil during operation. This is especially intensive in the summer.

Clogging of the inner surface of the component occurs due to the use of poor quality coolant. It may also be caused by mistakes during radiator operation, in particular, the use of distilled water instead of antifreeze: due to this, thick scale and rust are eventually formed inside the component.

Loss of tightness of the component and working fluid leakage may be caused by damaged pipes, tanks or seals. The component may also get deformed or perforated as a result of an accident or excessive force applied during repair. Besides, small cracks occur due to stones from the road surface that hit the grille.

The most common reason of radiator premature wear is its poor quality. The main condition of component durability is its high resistance to corrosion. This is because the coolant contains aggressive components which contribute to the component failure.

Repairing the engine cooling system radiator

It is often more expedient to repair the radiator than to replace it. However, high-quality repair requires the use of professional equipment. Therefore, upon noticing the first symptoms of leakage, contact a service center, and the plastic welding technology will ensure tightness of the tanks for a long time. Sometimes, to restore the component, it is sufficient to clean it: to blow down or flush it with water under high pressure, with special additives.

Replacing the engine cooling system radiator

Radiator failures cannot always be eliminated. For example, if pipes of the device are clogged with aggressive chemicals, cleaning them is useless. Also, incorrect use of sealants can lead to clogging the entire radiator instead of repairing a local leak, after which the component is to be replaced with a new one. This work should be entrusted to specialists at a service station.