Radiator and Water Hoses

The car radiator is an important part of your car’s cooling system. If your car radiator is not functioning properly your car is going to overheat – especially in heavy, slow moving traffic or on the motorway when your car’s cooling system is working at its hardest.

The cause may be the radiator is choked up inside with scaling which reduces the flow of water, it might be corroded on the outside so air can’t pass through it or your car radiator might be leaking coolant.

At Centennial Park Automotive we are equipped to help ensure that any radiator or cooling problem your car is having is diagnosed and repaired as soon as is possible. Below is a list of some of the most common types of fault and their causes:

Leaky fittings or seams

As a car gets older its parts are going to wear. For your car radiator, that means hoses, clamps, sealed seams, and secondary fittings (like an automatic transmission oil cooler). Keep an eye out for overly rusted clamp, for leaking seams where the cores join the tanks, and split hoses. This can occur with or without regular radiator maintenance.

Radiator core deterioration

Constant exposure to dirt, water, or road salt can coat, corrode, or damage the cooling fins on your radiator cores. Radiator maintenance here includes regular cleaning and inspection, which can greatly increase the life of your radiator cores. Many radiator cores are bonded to the tanks with solder or epoxy and these are common points of failure in radiators.

Electrolysis

If dirty or mineral-rich water is used in a cooling system, it can quickly accumulate scaling and sediment build-up on the interior of the radiator. Electrolysis is the process by which this accumulation occurs. This build-up can be cleaned out with radiator cleaners and, for some radiators, with a rod and brush.

Cracked Tank

Another common radiator problem is a cracked tank. Sometimes, it is caused by corrosion, other times it is from tank faults or internal pressure. Many radiators have removable tanks that can be replaced if they fail.

Radiator fan damage

An improperly fitted fan can rub against or hit the radiator when the car goes over a bump. This will bend and sometimes split the radiator cores, reducing cooling efficiency and causing leaks. You should periodically visually inspect your radiator cores for any fan damage.

These are some of the common car radiator problems. Simple preventative maintenance can save you time and money. Remember, to keep your cooling system running in tip-top shape, you should have it professionally inspected and serviced at least once every two years.