Important Things to Understand About Your Radiator

There are all kinds of radiators, but the most common is probably the one inside your car. Your vehicle’s radiator is a crucial part of keeping your car running smoothly and safely. The main purpose of the radiator is to keep your car’s engine cool while it is operating in extreme temperatures under the hood. Without the radiator, your car would quickly overheat and cause lasting damage to the engine and its components. If you are worried about the condition of your vehicle and its radiator, here are a few things that you should remember while operating your vehicle.

Here’s How a Car Radiator Works

Your engine’s cooling system centers around the radiator. A car’s engine generates a great deal of heat during the combustion process. That means it needs to be cooled constantly. Otherwise, the pistons inside the engine could seize up and snap in half, or a head gasket could blow. The engine tries to keep itself cool in different ways. The exhaust system diverts heat through pipes from the engine bay into the atmosphere while oil lubricates the engine to reduce friction and heat. When these two portions of the cooling system fail to cool the engine enough, a thermostat near the front of the engine triggers the release of radiator fluid (water and coolant) that is held in the radiator. This radiator fluid travels past the hottest parts of the engine and collects heat, then travels back to the radiator. The radiator’s ample surface area allows the heat that the coolant collects to dissipate. This keeps the radiator fluid for another trip through the engine.

Overheating? never loses its cool.

Issues can come up that cause your cooling system to stop working properly. It’s always a good idea to check the dials on your dash if you suspect your engine is overheating. If you suspect that your engine might be overheating, roll your windows down and if the air conditioning is running, turn it off. Once your vehicle is safe to drive, get it immediately to your local Mavis for diagnosis. The technicians at your local Mavis are well equipped to quickly assess and repair any issues you are having so you can get back on the road again as quickly as soon as possible.