How Are Automobile Radiators Repaired?

The radiator plays a vital role in the overall health of your car engine. It is a vital component of the cooling system, whose main function is to prevent the engine from overheating. The radiator helps keep the engine running at its optimal temperature by removing excess heat from the engine block. It diverts the heat out of the coolant before the coolant goes back into the engine and this allows the engine to continue running without burning the oil or the transmission fluid. Damage to the radiator can cause leaks and also result in an overheated and damaged engine.

Repair

Contrary to popular belief, more radiator leaks are caused by age than mileage. As the radiator gets older, it is more likely to start eroding and cracking. The most obvious sign of radiator damage is a low coolant level in the engine. A coolant puddle under your car is another warning sign that the radiator needs replacement or repair. The first step in repairing a radiator is identifying the exact source of the leak. This is normally done by washing any excess coolant off of the radiator and engine block and then running the car with the hood up to visually locate where the coolant is leaking. Leaks in the radiator itself can sometimes be repaired with a sealant such as a cold-weld epoxy. The radiator is drained and the area around the leak is cleaned. Normally it will be on a seam in the metal. After this is finished, the epoxy is applied. It can take the epoxy up to two hours to dry and most repairs of this type are temporary and the leak will eventually reopen. An alternative to epoxy is to solder or braze the leak. This is a more effective method of repair.

Replacement

It is frequently more cost effective in the long run to replace the radiator instead of to repair it. It is always advised to have a professional complete this task and the details differ slightly depending on the model of the car. Generally, a mechanic will disconnect the negative terminal of the car battery before draining the rest of the cooling system. He will then remove lower-hose connections and drain the radiator. The upper-hose connections are removed next, and then the upper radiator mount. The radiator is removed and the cooling fans are pulled off of it. Those fans are then placed onto the new radiator before it is installed. All the hoses are reconnected and then the coolant system is refilled with coolant.