Your vehicle relies on its radiator to keep the engine at the right temperature. On average, your engine should always run between 195 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything hotter than that spells trouble and also damages your engine. Your radiator will let you know if it is in trouble. Longwood Auto Fix lists six signs of radiator problems that you should definitely get fixed as soon as possible.

Too Much Heat

The most common sign of radiator trouble is an overheating engine. This said, when your engine overheats it isn’t always the radiator. It could also be the coolant, fan, thermostat, or another problem entirely, such as an overheating fuel pump motor.

Coolant Leak

Check your radiator overflow tank regularly to ensure the fluid level stays the same. If you notice it keeps falling, you might have a coolant leak somewhere in the system. If the coolant is leaking onto your garage floor, it could red, green, orange, or even yellow.

Problems Shifting

What? The radiator can make it hard to shift my car? Well, in some cases, yes. Some automobiles have what’s called an integrated transmission cooler and if this cooler cracks, you’ll end up with radiator fluid mixing with the transmission fluid and major automotive repairs.

Coolant Discoloration

As we said above, coolant comes in a rainbow of colors, but some of these colors actually mean something is wrong. Dark orange or even brown coolant is contaminated by radiator sludge. An old radiator will begin to rust over time and build up sludge.

Exterior Fin Problems

The radiator has what are called exterior fins that help reduce the temperature of the hot coolant before it circulates back through the engine. Air flows over these fins to cool the fluid down. Anything outside of the radiator can clog or damage them, including bugs and road debris.

No Heater

Finally, your vehicle’s heating system draws heat from the hot coolant that passes through the heater core to push hot air through the vents when the heater is on. If the air does not get hot even though you turn up the thermostat, the radiator or heater core could be blame.

As we mentioned above, excessive heat in your vehicle’s engine can cause costly damage, so it’s best to have any cooling system concerns addressed right away, including the radiator itself. We can help here at Longwood Auto Fix. We work with cooling systems every day at our Longwood, FL, shop, so call us to schedule an appointment.