Although most people around the world are car owners, many do not know what goes on under the hood of their car. A cooling system under the hood ensures that your functions are efficiently without it getting overheated. There are many components of this cooling system, including the radiator.
Yes, cars do have radiators. It is the central part of the cooling system in your car. The radiator’s primary purpose is to ensure that the engine cooling fluid is at the proper level. They primarily work to reduce heat from the engine and its chamber.
Keep following the article below to find out more about how radiators work!
How Do Radiators Work?
The engines in your car burn fuel and create energy, producing heat. It is crucial to eliminate this heat to prevent damage to your car.
The radiators do this work. The process starts as soon as the thermostat at the front of your engine detects the presence of excess heat in your car.
After this, the radiator releases the coolant and water into the engine to absorb this excess heat. Consequently, once this liquid removes the excess heat, it is directed back toward the radiator.
Then, the radiator starts blowing off this air across the liquid to cool it down through the exchange of outside air.
Throughout this process, the radiator uses thin metal fins, which are highly beneficial by quickly releasing heat outside the car. Additionally, these fins often work alongside the fan, which blows air across the radiator.
There are many types of car radiators. The common ones are the tubular core type and the cellular core type.
Parts Of A Radiator
There are several essential features inside a radiator, and all these parts have a vital role to play in the cooling process. The table below lists each of these parts and their descriptions.
| Part | Function/Description |
| Core | It is the largest part of the radiator is a metal block where the hot liquid releases heat and cools down before the process begins again. |
| Pressure Cap | This keeps the cooling system sealed so that pressure inside can be maintained. In doing so, it keeps the cooling system more efficient. |
| Inlet and Outlet Tanks | These are in the radiator head and are the parts through which the coolant flows in and out of the radiator. Hot liquid flows through the inlet tank and, once cooled down, goes out through the outlet tank. |
| Radiator Hoses | The coolant travels through the engine using the radiator hoses, which are essential as they connect the inlet and outlet tanks to the radiator and the engine. |
Having mentioned the components that make up a radiator and their functions, we will now be going into details about signs that tell us when something is wrong with the radiator.
Signs Of A Bad Or Failing Radiator
Several signs indicate when your radiator is not performing its function adequately or has failed. We will now talk about some of these signs in detail.
Overheated Vehicle
One of the most significant indicators of when your radiator might not be functioning properly is when your car gets too heated.
Therefore, every time your engine gets overheated, you must be sure to check your car’s radiator because there may be something wrong with it.
Coolant In The Vehicle Is Leaking
This is also a significant indicator of when your radiator is not working properly. This is because the functioning of the coolant is directly related to the functioning of the radiator.
Thus, when there are leakages in the coolant, it may not be able to flow correctly through the engine, reducing the efficiency of the radiator overall.
Low Coolant Levels
As a properly working coolant is an integral part of a fully working radiator, you must check the coolant level regularly.
If the coolant level is low, it can be a sign that the radiator is not functioning properly. This may result in the engine getting overheated.
Build-Up Of Sludge In The Radiator
As your cars get used frequently, sludge may likely build up in the radiator or along its passage.
Therefore, you should regularly check your car to ensure all the radiator components are working properly.
How To Maintain The Radiator
Having mentioned all the signs that can indicate a malfunction within your car’s radiator, we will now be going into some preventative measures and other tips on how to maintain your car’s radiator.
Regular Check-Ups
As recommended by any car expert, it is highly vital that you get your car serviced regularly. As part of this service, you must also check the radiator to see whether all components are functioning properly.
This is helpful to ensure that no last-minute emergencies can prevent a smooth ride.
Avoid Overloading Your Car
As a car owner, you must take care and not overload that car too much. This can cause numerous problems, among which are hindrances to the proper functioning of the radiator.
When the radiator cannot perform well, your engine is at risk too.
Top Up Of Engine Coolant
You must top up the coolant in your car every 20,000 to 25,000 miles. Car experts recommend this to remove any contaminants that might be present within the radiator and its hoses.
Furthermore, it also helps in the conditioning of the cooling system to prevent components from rusting.
Check The Hoses For Leaks
You must be sure to replace the hoses within the radiator after every three years. This ensures that all broken or worn-out hoses are replaced with new ones that work properly.
Replace Damaged Fins
Airflow can get blocked if a car radiator’s fins are bent or damaged. This is caused when gravel frequently hits the car or if too much pressure gets exerted when cleaning them.
Final Takeaway
Radiators are an important feature in cars that prevent the engine from overheating. Therefore, you must be sure to take proper care of the radiator for the efficient functioning of your engine and car.
