Five Signs Your Radiator Is Damaged or Clogged

 

Your engine's coolant is being cooled by the radiator. Here's how to identify a faulty radiator.

The radiator in your car is one of the most well-known parts. While you may be able to locate your radiator, it's another matter to understand how it functions and how to spot problems.

It is advised to look online for car garages in Reading and make an appointment as it is often best to leave the diagnosis to the experts.

Continue reading if you think your radiator might be broken. We'll go over the five most typical indications that your radiator is broken and how it functions.

After reading this, you'll be able to identify the exact cause of any problems with your car's radiator, and you should be on your way to scheduling repairs. Take a brief glance at the warnings to get things started.

To avoid a failed MOT, have the overheating problem with your vehicle fixed by a capable mechanic before making a MOT testing service appointment. The most common indications of a damaged or leaky radiator are an overheated engine and apparent coolant loss. Perhaps you've also noticed how the temperature gauge on your dashboard varies over time.

Can I become a MOT tester without being a mechanic?

No, you cannot work as a MOT Tester unless you have a valid mechanic's licence. In the UK, the organisation in charge of regulating MOTs is called the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency).

When enrolling in a MOT testing course, you must: a valid, complete driving licence for the classes of vehicles you wish to test in from the UK. Own at least four years of full-time experience as a professional mechanic working on the vehicles you'll examine.

What does PRS mean in MOT?

The PRS (Pass after Rectification at Station) procedure allows for the correction of errors up to an hour after the test, but before the results is entered into the MOT Testing Service.

One of the most frequent asked questions in relation to a MOT test is do number plate lights fail a MOT?

Is a light on a licence plate a MOT failure? At the MOT, defective lights that are meant to illuminate licence plates will need to be changed.

Let's return to the issue of the malfunctioning radiator.

Additionally, just because you have a radiator leak or an overheating engine doesn't necessarily mean the radiator is to blame. Below, we'll walk you through all you need to know and dissect each sign of a broken or blocked radiator.

1.      High temperature readings on the gauge - If you notice that your temperature gauge is rising dangerously, something is not operating as it should. If the engine overheats, it will simply switch off, indicating that a little more serious issue has arisen. Find garages in Reading online right away, then schedule a booking with a mechanic for thorough examinations and repairs.

2.      Coolant Leaks - Leaks in the coolant system are among the most frequent issues with malfunctioning radiators. While leaks are typically visible underneath your car, it's not always the case. If you see any white streaks or coolant puddles anywhere near your radiator, it has a leak and has to be fixed. To determine whether a defective radiator was the cause of a prior MOT test failure, use an online MOT history checker.

3.      Damaged Radiator Fins - These are another frequent issue with radiators. Your car's radiators are located up front, yet their fins are one of the most prone to damage. While a few broken fins won't cause your engine to overheat, more broken fins will reduce the amount of coolant flowing through your radiator. Additionally, broken fins increase the likelihood that you have a leak.

4.      Fluid Discoloration – Corrosion is one of the worst enemies of radiators. The risk of corrosion growing up grows as the coolant wears down, even though corrosion shouldn't be occurring inside your cooling system. Because the corrosion is on the inside of your radiator, you won't be able to see it, but it will cause the coolant to turn coloured. Try a coolant cleanse if the coolant is old, but if it's relatively new and already noticeably discoloured, your system likely has major corrosion. To test whether you can clear enough of the passageways, try flushing your radiator, but be ready in case you need to replace the radiator.

5.      Visible Corrosion - Visible corrosion is frequently the first indication that a bigger issue is likely to arise. Corrosion causes worn-out fins, blown seals, and a plethora of other possible problems. While a small amount of corrosion isn't a big concern, if there is an excessive quantity, you should get your radiator examined by a qualified mechanic.

The Radiator's Function

A crucial component of your cooling system is the radiator. If given enough time and no cooling solution, the coolant that circulates through the engine will continue to heat up until the engine overheats and shuts off.

A crucial component of the system that cools your coolant is your radiator. Through the little metal fins, you can see the coolant moves from one side of the radiator to the other. It gets simpler to cool since the water thins out as it passes through the fins.

Your car accomplishes this with the assistance of an engine fan and by allowing air to flow over it naturally as you drive. This is why the creator positioned your car's radiator at the front of your vehicle.

Radiator Location

Undoubtedly one of the simplest parts of your car to locate is the radiator. It is always placed in the front of your car so that it may benefit from airflow when you drive to speed up cooling.

Typically, the radiator is behind the fan, which is behind the radiator, which is behind the bumper/grill region of your car.

Although the condenser and the radiator have striking visual similarities, they are easy to distinguish once you know what you're looking at. There are two ways to distinguish your condenser from your radiator. The condenser is first located in front of the radiator. Second, your radiator is frequently much thinner than the heater core.

Simply search for the larger of the two parts when locating your car's radiator and you should be fine. However, since it's frequently crammed in close proximity to other parts, accessing your radiator may prove challenging.