We have put together some help and advice in the event that you start to experience problems with your Radiator.
What are the most common problems?
The main issues are:
- Coolant leaks
- Frequent engine overheating
- A puddle under the radiator
How does a radiator work?
The main purpose of the radiator is to cool the internal combustion engine. Unlike radiators in your home which increase the temperature.
The engine has to burn fuel in order to work. The burning process creates an enormous amount of friction and heat which has to be cooled as much as it can to avoid the pistons breaking. If the engine were to overheat this could mean having to replace the engine which would obviously be very costly.
To prevent this from happening, heated coolant is passed from the engine into the radiator causing the radiator to be highly pressurised. The radiator cap opens at a predefined point, releasing the heat and allowing excess coolant to flow into the tank attached to the radiator. Once the temperature has lowered it is sent back into the radiator.
So why do radiators fail?
They usually fail because the coolant has not been checked or been topped up properly. This can cause the inside to rust or get clogged up. Any corrosion can cause little holes to form allowing the coolant to leak out. Pressure building within the cooling system can cause aluminium/plastic radiators to expand.
What to look out for…
Make sure you check the following areas for leaks:
Hoses – Look out for collapsing or swelling
Plugs, Water Pump and Radiator – Check the connections for crusted coolant
If you find the leak is coming from the radiator what can you do?
- You can attach a cooling system pressure tester to the radiator cap to check the pressure.
- If the pressure drops quickly remove the radiator from the vehicle and test the radiator again with a cooling system pressure tester by submerging it under water and look to see where the bubbles come out.
How to fix it?
- Radiator sealant can be added to temporarily fix minor leaks within the radiator.
- Major damage will need to be repaired with solder and a blow torch on metal radiators only.
- Replace damaged hoses, plugs or radiator caps.
Prevention
- Coolant needs to be replaced every 2 years in general. However our latest AISIN coolant can last up to 5 years (ANTIF003).
- Check levels every 2 weeks if you suspect a problem.
RoughTrax Radiators and Accessories
We stock a wide range of top branded aftermarket Aluminium and OE standard radiators and hoses.
AVA is a recognised and trusted manufacturer, who claim 100% OEM/OEE quality. They use top quality craftsmanship and try to improve on the original radiator design.
FS1 Cooling manufacture radiators with a high spec cooling core to improve water circulation.
At RoughTrax we generally only stock Genuine Toyota hoses to give you guaranteed quality and fit.