Overheating radiators and how to deal with it

So, just what do you need to look out for when you experience overheating radiator? The first thing you need to do is get the car off the road into a workshop. The problem of over heating cannot be emphazied for you to know what it will do to your car. Your engine will ping […]

So, just what do you need to look out for when you experience overheating radiator? The first thing you need to do is get the car off the road into a workshop. The problem of over heating cannot be emphazied for you to know what it will do to your car. Your engine will ping and start to lose power under load as the combination of heat and pressure exceed the octane rating of the fuel. If the detonation problem persists, the hammer-like blows may damage the rings, pistons or rod bearings.

Another consequence of overheating may be a blown head gasket. Heat makes aluminum swell almost three times faster than cast iron. The resulting stress can distort the head and make it swell in areas that are hottest like those between exhaust valves in adjoining cylinders, and areas that have restricted coolant flow like the narrow area that separates the cylinders. The typical aluminum head swells most in the middle, which can crush the head gasket if the head gets hot enough. This will cause a loss of torque in the gasket allowing coolant and combustion leaks to occur when the head cools.

So what causes overheating? Overheating can be caused by anything that decreases the cooling system’s ability to absorb, transport and dissipate heat: A low coolant level, a coolant leak (through internal or external leaks), poor heat conductivity inside the engine because of accumulated deposits in the water jackets, a defective thermostat that doesn’t open, poor airflow through the radiator, a slipping fan clutch, an inoperative electric cooling fan, a collapsed lower radiator hose, an eroded or loose water pump impeller, or even a defective radiator cap.

One of nature’s basic laws says that heat always flows from an area of higher temperature to an area of lesser temperature, never the other way round. The only way to cool hot metal, therefore, is to keep it in constant contact with a cooler liquid. And the only way to do that is to keep the coolant in constant circulation. As soon as the circulation stops, either because of a problem with the water pump, thermostat or loss of coolant, temperature begins to rise and the engine starts to overheat.

Here is what to do: Look for signs of coolant leakage on the garage floor, driveway or ground under your vehicle. Check the level of coolant in the overflow reservoir or inside the radiator by removing the radiator cap. The engine must be cool before the radiator cap can be safely removed. If the coolant level in the overflow reservoir or radiator is unusually low, odds are good that you have a leaky car radiator. Inspect the radiator to find where it is leaking. Search for deposits of coolant and an orange or green discoloration. Remove the radiator for further testing if the leak cannot be found. Use a radiator pressure test kit to fill the radiator with the amount of air specified by the radiator cap. Submerge the radiator in a tank of water and watch for escaping air bubbles. The source of these bubbles is the leak that must be repaired. From that point, it can be patched. If a leak is not seen, it may be a faulty affiliated part. It is note worthy to consult a mechanic who is familiar with cooling systems before trying to repair a radiator leak.