Does Your Toyota Need a Radiator Repair?

A healthy radiator is essential for your Toyota, as it removes the heat generated by your engine. Combustion generates large volumes of heat, and this heat must be removed to protect your engine from damage. When your radiator is working efficiently, your engine will also work more effectively. If your radiator is damaged, your Toyota dealer can perform a radiator repair. These are some of the signs you may have a radiator problem.

Broken Radiator Fan

When your engine temperature rises over 180 F, coolant is released into the engine. Coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water and has the unique ability to absorb the heat radiating from the hot engine components. The coolant is pumped into the radiator, where the heat is removed by airflow over the radiator tubes. This process works most effectively when your car is traveling at speed.

When your car is idling or moving at a slower pace, airflow through the radiator grille is more restricted. When this happens, the thermostat attached to the radiator fan will detect the increased heat in the radiator, and the fan will switch on. The fan blows cool air across the back of the radiator tubes and forces the heat out of the radiator. If the fan doesn’t switch on, our technicians will need to examine it. We’ll repair or replace the fan to fix this problem.

Leaking Coolant

Coolant is pumped through your engine at high speed, and the speed will increase as your engine temperature increases. The faster the coolant moves, the faster it can remove heat and control your engine temperature. The cooling system is subject to stresses from temperatures over 300 F and pressure, which can damage the system in time.

Any damage to the cooling system can cause a coolant leak. As coolant leaks out, the pressure in the cooling system will drop. The reduced coolant level and its slower movement will cause your engine temperature to rise. A coolant leak can become apparent if you either see green, yellow, pink, or blue liquid under your car or if your engine temperature gauge starts to rise. Our technicians can trace a coolant leak and repair it very quickly.

Loose Hoses

Two hoses connect the radiator to the cooling system. These hoses are made from reinforced rubber and are designed to carry hot and pressurized coolant continually. The hoses are attached to the radiator by strong metal clamps that ensure an air-tight fit.

Over time, the subtle movement of the hoses as you drive can loosen the clamps. A loose clamp can lead to a coolant leak or cause the hose to disconnect from the radiator. We will test the clamps and replace any worn or damaged ones.

If your engine is overheating, call us immediately at Ed Martin Toyota.

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