Five Signs You Have A Healthy Radiator On Your Car
The radiator is one of the important components in the engine cooling system. The radiator serves to cool the temperature of the cooling water coming from the engine. That way, the radiator can maintain the engine temperature at normal working temperatures. So this will make the engine more durable in carrying out its work.
However, maintenance on the engine cooling system is often overlooked so that over time and the period of use, it will have an impact on decreasing engine performance. -One example of an engine that easily overheats.
This overheating engine is often identified with abnormal radiator work, such as leaking cooling water and clogged. Apart from the radiator, other engine cooling system components also play a role in keeping the engine temperature under control at normal working temperatures.
This article will discuss the signs of a healthy radiator that might help you detect the cause of the engine overheating. Here are the characteristics of a healthy radiator that we can see in the engine.
1. The engine works well in cold and hot temperatures
The sign of a healthy radiator that works the easiest to notice is that the engine works well at cold temperatures or hot working temperatures. We can observe this condition through the temperature indicator on the vehicle dashboard.
The engine temperature indicator is stable and can show the appropriate temperature conditions through the temperature indicator needle. It indicates that the engine cooling system is still working correctly, including the radiator that can function normally.
2. Radiator cooling water in the reservoir tank is stable at the maximum limit
The next sign of a healthy radiator can be seen from the condition of the radiator cooling water in the reservoir tank. A healthy radiator work will be seen from the amount of water in the reservoir tank which is always stable between the maximum and minimum limits. In addition, the condition of the water in the reservoir tank will also look clean and not mixed with dirt/mud.
The radiator cooling water in the reservoir tank, which is always stable, indicates that the radiator cap can work properly and normally. Besides that, radiator cooling water can also circulate, both from and into the reservoir tank.
3. Radiator cooling water circulation is running normally
The next sign of a healthy radiator is that the radiator water circulation is running normally. We can observe this radiator water circulation by opening the radiator cap and turning on the car engine.
When the temperature is still cold, the water in the radiator will look still and not flowing. This condition indicates that the cooling water is still circulating in the engine. In addition, this condition also indicates that the thermostat is still closed.
When the engine temperature is hot, we will see the radiator cooling water move and flow into the engine following the engine's working temperature. This condition indicates that the thermostat is open so that hot water from the engine will flow into the radiator and cold water from the radiator will enter the engine.
When cold water from the radiator has hit the thermostat, the thermostat will close so that the hot water in the radiator from the previous engine will stop at the radiator and experience a cooling process in the radiator.
Read also:- 5 Signs of clogged radiator
- How a radiator works?
- 3 Causes of car overheating with coolant full in reservoir tank
4. There is no dirt clogging the radiator
The next characteristic of a healthy radiator is the absence of dirt that clogs inside the radiator. We can open the radiator cap and look at the inside of the radiator. If the condition in the radiator is clean, this indicates that the radiator is in healthy condition.
However, suppose the inside of the radiator contains mud or other impurities. In that case, we can ascertain that the radiator and engine cooling system are in abnormal condition and need to be cleaned and drained. If the dirt is left alone, it can gradually clog up, so the engine heats up quickly and overheats.
5. Radiator grille is clean and not clogged with dirt
The last sign of a healthy radiator that we know is that the radiator grille looks clean and not clogged with dirt. A clean radiator grille indicates that the air circulation used to cool the radiator water can run smoothly.
This smooth air circulation makes the radiator work process normal and good and does not interfere with the engine cooling water in the radiator.
If the grille looks dirty and clogged, then the radiator is working abnormally. The temperature of the cooling water that the radiator should have lowered to the maximum has finally become incompletely. Therefore, to ensure the radiator is working normally, the cleanliness of the radiator grille is one of the characteristics that can be used as a characteristic of a healthy radiator.