Thursday, July 9, 2020

The Basics of Car Radiator Repair

The radiator of your car will inevitably leak especially when poor maintenance practices are done. In fact, most car owners only determine the leak once it becomes large. Small leaks and minor problems usually are left undiagnosed. While severe damages are easy to determine, it also comes with major repair – and bigger amount of expenditures. These are the basics of car radiator repair you should know:
Photo: Pixabay

When to Replace Your Radiator


Small holes and light damages can still be repaired by bringing your car to an auto repair shop. The auto mechanic will thoroughly check your car and discuss with you the things that should be done. However, when large cracks and holes are seen, the best option is to replace your radiator. The replacement of radiator is actually easy to do, especially when you know the basics of how a car engine works. If not, you may need to contact an auto mechanic. The auto mechanic may do welding and series of tasks to efficiently remove your old radiator and replace it with new ones. This will take about a few hours, depending on the system of your car. There are models with automatic transmission and cooling lines. These models may require loosening and fastening of bolts and nuts.

Simple Remedies for Light Damages


If you are not ready, yet, to have a car radiator repair, you can do simple remedies to temporarily fix light damages. This is by the use of mustard or black pepper. Simply add about 2 tablespoon of mustard to your car’s coolant. It has natural properties to seal any small leak. If there is no mustard available, using black pepper is the next best thing. However, remember that these are only temporary solutions until the car is ready for car radiator repair.

Most people take advantage of the properties of a coolant. There are brands that can stop small leaks and all you need to do is add more coolant and drive a couple of distance to let the coolant work. However, this is not effective when the radiator damages are too severe. There are also some stop leaks products available on the market. Just be careful in using them as they have compatibility issues with other vehicles.

Knowing the Process


The basic of repairing the car radiator is to initially determine the severity of the problem by checking the level of the coolant or by putting an anti-freeze under the car. This will determine where the leak is coming from. Then, with the use of pliers, roll the tube ends to apply a cold-weld compound. If the radiator cap leaks, replace it with a new one. However, if the radiator itself has a leak, drain the radiator first and apply cold-weld on the leak. The holes can be sealed by means of epoxy hardener or by using an additive with anti-freeze.


Car radiator repair may seem easy but it can really be extensive especially when the damages are severe. Be sure to work with an auto mechanic to ensure efficient repair.
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