What Happens When a Radiator Is Broken?

The radiator in your car whisks away the heat created by the engine as it runs using coolant and a maze of channels in the radiator. If the radiator is cracked or leaking, it can't cool your engine, which will cause the engine to overheat if not fixed quickly.

Symptoms

A damaged radiator can be easy to identify, as you will notice wet spots on the ground beneath your engine when you've been parked for a while. Your temperature gauge will begin to climb while you are driving, and that indicates that your engine is not being cooled properly. Smoke could escape from beneath your car's hood.

Repair

A certified mechanic can identify what the problem is with your radiator, which could be as simple as a broken hose or as complex as a crack in the radiator itself. A patch may work to fix the problem, or the radiator could need replacing.

Considerations

Do not drive more than necessary if your radiator is broken; overheating can cause damage to your engine. Keep children and pets away from any spilled or leaked coolant. It has a sweet taste that they may find appealing, but ingesting only a few spoonfuls can be fatal.