What are the signs and symptoms of a blocked radiator? How can you tell if your radiator is clogged? How can I tell if the radiator is clogged
Heat is generated when the engine is in operation. The radiator’s purpose is to cool down the engine and keep it from overheating. Coolant is used to heat the engine of a car. The radiator cools the water and is sent back to your engine. This circulation continues for as long as you have the engine running.
Proper cooling is lost inside an engine if the radiator becomes clogged, fails to work efficiently or is otherwise not in working order. If this is not fixed quickly, it can cause the engine to heat up and cause irreparable damage.
It could be blocked from the outside or inside, or even fail completely. Clogged radiators can cause the following symptoms:
1- Engine Overheating / High Temperature Gauge
Engine overheating, one of the most visible signs of a blocked radiator, is one of its most common symptoms. Overheating causes the temperature gauge needle to rise towards the red area. New cars have a digital display that warns the driver if the engine temperature has reached too high.
Normal operating temperature for most cars is between 90 °C (195 °F) and 104 °C (220 °F). The temperature can rise a bit, especially during summer when the air conditioner is running continuously. However, this is not an issue. If the temperature gauge is showing an increase in temperature and the engine is always overheating, it could be a problem with the radiator. This can be caused by corrosion due to rust deposits, impurities in radiators, and a lack of coolant circulation.
2- Coolant Leaks
Excessive corrosion can cause small cracks or holes in the radiator’s casing and cores. This can lead to small drops of coolant appearing on the garage floor or under your car.
Bad quality antifreeze or tap water being used instead of distilled water are two common causes of radiator rust. If the radiator isn’t cleaned regularly, more rust will form and eat the radiator core.
Even if there is a slight leak, the coolant in your vehicle won’t be enough. If you fail to fix the leak promptly or replenish the coolant quickly, your engine can overheat. This could result in costly repair costs and internal damage.
3- Coolant Contamination
Coolant comes in a variety of colors, including green, orange, pink, red and yellow. The coolant should have a bright color, flow freely through radiator channels and the engine.
The coolant may become contaminated by internal debris and deposits over time. The coolant may turn a rusty or oily color. It is easiest to check the condition of the coolant by checking the radiator expansion tanks, also known to be called the reserve water tank.
Coolant can become contaminated if it thickens or is prevented from flowing through the cooling systems through lines. If this happens, the coolant can clog the radiator. It will also reduce the radiator’s efficiency and cause the engine to heat up if not addressed promptly. The radiator should always be cleaned and the coolant changed.
Some vehicles also have a radiator that houses the transmission cooler. The coolant and transmission fluid can mix if there is a leak between the barriers. This will double the problem.
4- Blockage of Radiator Outer Wings
Radiators are made to achieve maximum cooling. Radiators are designed to provide maximum cooling. To do this, tubes with thin fins pass through the radiator. These tubes carry the hot coolant. The radiator fan circulates outside air around the fins while you drive. It lowers the coolant’s temperature and returns it to the engine. The coolant cannot cool down sufficiently if it is clogged with dirt, insects or leaves.
You can clear the radiator’s front with a gardenhose and a spray nozzle.
Radiator 5- Damaged or Bent Wings
The fins can be bent and damaged by foreign matter that has adhered to the radiator’s front. These fins are very sensitive and can be damaged by a small amount of gravel. Bending and damaged fins can block airflow.
You can also cause damage by installing a new radiator, or spraying water on the fins to clean them. These vanes can be bent easily by high-pressure water guns, which can block airflow. The radiator can get clogged if there are too many blades. This can cause the engine’s overheating.
6- Heating System not Heating Well
Heating a car’s heating system is dependent on hot coolant flowing through the heater core, fan motor and heater core. The heater core is not heated properly if the radiator is blocked or leaky.
Although the most common cause is a malfunctioning thermostat, it can also be caused by a malfunctioning radiator.
7- Cold Radiator Lower Hose
The radiator upper tube carries hot water from the engine to the radiator for cooling. It connects with the thermostat housing, which runs from the top radiator to the top engine. From the radiator’s lower end, the radiator lower hose connects to the water pump (or circulation) pump. The water pump collects coolant from the radiator, and then directs it to the engine block or cylinder heads.
Normal for a radiator to heat up to the touch, and cool down to the lower radiator hose, is that it is performing its job. If the radiator’s lower hose feels cold, it could be a blockage in the coolant flow.
