With winter’s arrival, temperatures are going down. An important maintenance issue to take care of before heading up to the snow is the radiator, especially if you have not yet had it inspected after summer’s blazing temperatures. If you plan to take an extended trip to a colder climate, make sure the mixture of anti-freeze and water is at the right level. If the coolant freezes and expands over and over, it puts a lot of stress on the radiator which can lead to cracking, leaking, and then transmission damage. This will means that you will be needing to replace your radiator fairly urgently.
So how do you know if you need a new radiator? Here are five signs that you should be aware of:
- An engine that keeps overheating – The flow of coolant is restricted due to air inside the cooling system, clogged hoses, or too low of coolant level.
- Leaking fluid from the radiator – There may be cracks in the radiator unit caused by freezing and expanding of fluid.
- Brittle and cracked hoses – The hose that connects the radiator to the engine will become brittle over time, cracking and leaking coolant as it flows to the engine.
- Thermostat Failure – The thermostat’s function is to regulate the flow of coolant from the engine to the radiator. If the thermostat fails, there will be no flow of coolant to cool the engine.
- Smoke coming from the Muffler – Exhaust smoke that is clearly visible from a distance is a sign there could be something wrong with your car.
- Black smoke can be caused by a clogged fuel return line, a leaking fuel injector, or a stuck fuel pressure regulator.
- White smoke is normal and could just be the car responding to low temperatures. If the outside temperatures are warm and your exhaust smoke is still white, coolant has somehow leaked into the combustion chamber.
- Bluish-gray smoke indicates that oil has leaked into the combustion chamber, possibly caused by a leaking valve seal or a stuck PCV valve.
Need to replace the radiator? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at Rebel Automotive for more information on how do you know if you need a new radiator and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Henderson, NV, Las Vegas, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV.
With winter’s arrival, temperatures are going down. An important maintenance issue to take care of before heading up to the snow is the radiator, especially if you have not yet had it inspected after summer’s blazing temperatures. If you plan to take an extended trip to a colder climate, make sure the mixture of anti-freeze and water is at the right level. If the coolant freezes and expands over and over, it puts a lot of stress on the radiator which can lead to cracking, leaking, and then transmission damage. This will means that you will be needing to replace your radiator fairly urgently.
So how do you know if you need a new radiator? Here are five signs that you should be aware of:
- An engine that keeps overheating – The flow of coolant is restricted due to air inside the cooling system, clogged hoses, or too low of coolant level.
- Leaking fluid from the radiator – There may be cracks in the radiator unit caused by freezing and expanding of fluid.
- Brittle and cracked hoses – The hose that connects the radiator to the engine will become brittle over time, cracking and leaking coolant as it flows to the engine.
- Thermostat Failure – The thermostat’s function is to regulate the flow of coolant from the engine to the radiator. If the thermostat fails, there will be no flow of coolant to cool the engine.
- Smoke coming from the Muffler – Exhaust smoke that is clearly visible from a distance is a sign there could be something wrong with your car.
- Black smoke can be caused by a clogged fuel return line, a leaking fuel injector, or a stuck fuel pressure regulator.
- White smoke is normal and could just be the car responding to low temperatures. If the outside temperatures are warm and your exhaust smoke is still white, coolant has somehow leaked into the combustion chamber.
- Bluish-gray smoke indicates that oil has leaked into the combustion chamber, possibly caused by a leaking valve seal or a stuck PCV valve.
Need to replace the radiator? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at Rebel Automotive for more information on how do you know if you need a new radiator and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Henderson, NV, Las Vegas, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV.
