4 Tips to Maintain Your Car’s Radiator
May 23, 2020
What car radiator maintenance tips should you follow?
- Constantly Inspect Radiator
- Avoid Overloading Your Car
- Check Fluids
- Change Engine Coolant
Your car is constantly in the process of fuel combustion in order for it to run. Without a radiator, it wouldn’t be able to effectively regulate heat levels in your engine. Retaining the condition of your radiator is as easy as knowing important car radiator maintenance tips. Continue reading to learn more!
Constantly Inspect Radiator
Inspecting any kind of vehicle component is a simple preventive measure. By constantly examining the different parts of your car, you can more easily identify potential problems that may worsen later on.
By inspecting your radiator, you can identify whether the hoses, valves, and the radiator cap are all in working order. Through regular inspections, you’ll also be able to identify whether your radiator has become the subject of corrosion or little cracks. Both of these are dangerous because of possible coolant contamination. For example, the flakes of rust coming from the corrosion can cause uneven cooling throughout your vehicle and may eventually lead to the engine overheating.
If you’re not confident about inspecting your own radiator, make sure you’re regularly servicing it at an auto repair shop.
Avoid Overloading Your Car
At first, the weight of your vehicle may not seem to have anything to do with the radiator. But, this isn’t necessarily the case. The more you subject your car to heavier loads, the more energy it requires to simply run. Another way of maintaining the radiator is by preventing your car from carrying excessive loads.
Knowing the manufacturer’s recommendations on the load your vehicle should carry is as simple as checking out your vehicle’s manual. Excessive loads further burden your vehicle’s engine and will cause it to overheat. Furthermore, your brakes could also be prevented from functioning due to the extra power that the engine requires to simply run the car under normal conditions.
Check Fluids
As mentioned before, the radiator primarily relies on fluids like the coolant or the antifreeze in order for it to do its job. Checking fluids ensures that you have an adequate level of coolant to function the radiator.
It’s not always advisable to tamper with or open your radiator cap. A simple way for you to check the fluid levels is by inspecting whether the “Full” indicator on the coolant container has been reached by the fluid. If the liquid hasn’t met the line, make sure to add around 50/50 water-coolant mixture to the container. You should always carefully read the label of your coolant to ensure that it’s appropriate for your vehicle.
Change Engine Coolant
Another tip in maintaining your radiator is to change your engine coolant after a specific period. Recommendations to change the coolant usually takes place after your car has reached around 50,000 kilometers. But, you should consult the owner’s manual first as this figure may depend on the type of vehicle.
When you’re changing the coolant, make sure you’ve allowed time for your vehicle to cool down. It can be dangerous to inspect your radiator while the engine is still hot. It’s advisable for you to have an air-powered refilling tool when you’re replacing this fluid. It can help you remove air pockets from the cooling system.
Locate the radiator neck or the overflow bottle and insert the refilling tool. After which, connect the exhaust hose and compressed air line. Let the hose fall into an empty pail, then allow the vacuum to rise until the needle points beyond the gauge’s red zone. Fill the coolant reservoir with the proper radiator coolant and return back all the caps you’ve removed.
Key Takeaway
These simple car radiator maintenance tips can prevent you from experiencing common radiator-related car problems. It can also increase your engine’s lifespan.
Through preventive measures like regularly inspecting the radiator, checking the fluid levels, and avoiding overloading, you can easily avoid unwanted situations such as overheating or radiator failure.
