Maintaining Your Vehicle: Radiator Repair at Your Dealership

Your engine operates most efficiently at temperatures from 185 F to 220 F, but high temperatures can cause engine damage. Gaskets, seals, hoses, and many other components can be easily damaged by high engine temperatures.  We want to tell you about some signs that you need to visit us for a radiator repair.

Signs You Need a Radiator Repair at Your Dealership

Coolant Leak

Liquid coolant is a 50:50 mixture of antifreeze and water. It’s pumped through your engine at high speed and absorbs heat radiating from the hot engine components. The heat is locked inside the coolant and transported to the radiator. Once inside the radiator, the coolant enters rows of thin aluminum tubes, and the heat is removed by air blowing over the tubes.

A coolant leak is very dangerous for your engine, as a low coolant level will cause the engine temperatures to rise dramatically. You’ll notice the engine temperature gauge rising and may feel heat emanating from under the hood. If this happens, contact us ASAP. Our technicians will examine your cooling system, find the leak source, and permanently seal it. We then refill the coolant, and your engine temperature will return to normal.

Damaged Water Pump

The water pump is responsible for pumping coolant through the cooling system. The pump starts as soon as coolant is released and will continue to push coolant through the system until the engine temperature drops below a pre-set level. The pumping speed will speed up or slow down, depending on the engine temperature.

If the pump fails, coolant will still be released but won’t move through the system. Without coolant, the engine temperature will rapidly rise, and your engine can suffer serious, even fatal, damage. Pump failure can be caused by a blown fuse or other electrical fault, or the pump may have worn out due to age. We’ll examine the pump and repair or replace it to fix this issue.

Radiator Sludge

The coolant absorbs other things besides heat. It can accumulate dirt, rust particles, minute metal fragments, and other debris as it moves. Once the coolant has cooled in the radiator tubes, it leaves the radiator and is pumped through the system again. The debris carried by the coolant is deposited at the bottom of the radiator.

Over time, these deposits will turn into sludge, which can block the radiator tubes. A blocked radiator can’t effectively cool the engine, and your engine will overheat. We can fix this problem by flushing your radiator to clear away any blockages, and your radiator will work effectively again.

Most radiator issues can be quickly and inexpensively repaired and will prevent more serious damage. Contact our service department today at Bacon Auto Country Inc. in Jacksonville, TX.

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