Radiator Repair Visalia CA
Common Radiator Problems
We at Radiator Repair Visalia CA want to give you some information about common radiator problems. If you’re having a radiator problem, check out this list and see if you have one of the following problems-
What is a Radiator?
The radiator is the cooling system of your vehicle or industrial machinery. It keeps your vehicle at an ideal cool temperature so that the vehicle can operate well. The radiator pumps coolant (antifreeze) throughout the radiator, which pulls heat away from the engine. Without the radiator, your engine will overheat and fail, which is a costly repair.
Why It’s Important
The radiator is what keeps the engine cool and keeps the engine from overheating. If the radiator goes bad, then it leaves the engine vulnerable to overheating and massive damage. If the engine gets damaged, that is bad news because it is a very expensive repair. At the same time, radiator maintenance, repair, or even replacement is not near that expensive. In comparison- a new engine is usually 10 to 15 times more expensive than a new radiator. That’s why you should take it seriously when it comes to your radiator so you can preserve the engine in your car.
Signs of Radiator Failure
Radiator failure can happen suddenly. You might be driving your car on the way to work one day, and all the sudden you notice an issue out of the blue. Maybe your check engine light goes on, or maybe you start noticing steam coming out from the hood of your car. Or maybe you are noticing a puddle of coolant under your vehicle in the parking lot. All of these things can be signs of radiator damage or failure.
Low Coolant
If you have low coolant, it could be minor, or it could indicate a bigger problem. It is probably a bigger problem if you are consistently finding yourself having low coolant. You could have a leak in the hoses, clamps, water pump, heating core, or reservoir. Low coolant can be a minor problem if you just happen to be running low because of normal evaporation and if it is not happening all the time. We will be able to take a look at our radiator repair Visalia CA.
Overheating
If smoke is coming out from the hood of your car, chances are that your radiator is overheating. When your engine overheats, usually it was caused by a primary issue with the radiator, such as a leak, rust, etc.
Leaks
If your cooling system is leaking, you will probably notice a puddle under your vehicle. You need to replace or repair the radiator hoses in order to fix the problem. An even further problem is if you have a radiator leak, then that means there is a good chance that the coolant reservoir is completely empty. Definitely make sure to fill it up with coolant as you get the hoses repaired.
Radiator Fan Issues
Damage to the fans of the radiator could be causing an issue. If the fans are not working, then the radiator cannot remove heat in the way it was designed to.
Rust
Rust can come from using old coolant or using water instead of coolant. Another issue that causes rust is if there’s a leak in the radiator and it’s exposed to air. Rust can clog the radiator, form thick sludge, damage the surfaces, cause leaks, and reduce heat transfers.
Sludge
Sludge is a thick mixture of liquid inside the radiator of rust, old and thick coolant, residue from the radiator and hoses, and oil leaks. This can cause overheating or clogging the radiator, heating core, or water pump failure. At radiator repair Visalia CA, we are here for you in any of the radiator problems you might be having.
Broken Water Pump
If the water pump on a radiator is broken, then the radiator cannot circulate the coolant throughout the engine. Another problem that arises with the water pump is if the coolant is dirty, it gets too thick to move through the water pump, which can lead to overheating.
Thermostat Failure
If the radiator thermostat is not functioning properly, then it cannot regulate the engine temperatures as designed. This will cause coolant not to flow.
Bad Water Pump
The water pump circulates the coolant to go from the radiator throughout the entire engine and back. This keeps the engine from overheating.
Faulty Radiator Cap
If you have a bad radiator cap, it won’t properly hold pressure. That can lead to overheating, leaking, boiling, or overflowing, collapsing hoses, and low coolant.
Heater Core
The heater core is designed to heat the inside of your car. If it stops working, you may get no heat in the interior of your car, or even may cause the engine to overheat. This could be caused by low coolant levels.
Tips
All of these could be signs of radiator failure. We at Radiator Repair Visalia CA are here to help with all of your radiator needs. Here’s a few tips to care for your radiator and your vehicle-
Doing regular maintenance on your vehicle or machinery will help reduce the risk of radiator failure and extend the life of your radiator.
Keeping a bottle of antifreeze handy in case you notice that the level is low.
As you drive, check your car’s thermostat from time to time.
Don’t overuse the air conditioning.
General Information
At Visalia Radiator Service, we have everything that you need for your radiator repair Visalia CA. We have an incredible team of experts who are knowledgeable and trained in all ways of radiator repair Visalia CA. We also are a family-run business with over 45 years of experience. We would love to serve YOU! Don’t hesitate! Call us today to schedule a session to check out your radiator.