The radiator should be inspected on a regular basis. This will help the engine and your vehicle to perform at top efficiency levels. Any indication of overheating is a serious matter, so the best course of action is to shut down the engine to prevent further damage. Driving a car with an overheated engine can warp cylinder heads and damage internal engine parts such as valves, camshafts and pistons. The vehicle may also overheat if the coolant level could be extremely low, because of long-term neglect or because a leak has developed in the radiator or radiator hoses. Coolant circulates inside the engine block to cool it, and the leak might be in the block, or from the water pump or heater hoses. Old coolant loses its corrosion-inhibiting properties, allowing rust to form and ultimately causing damage. The thermostat that allows coolant to circulate may be stuck in the closed position or a clog may have developed, perhaps from debris in the cooling system. Also the engine cooling fan has stopped working or the radiator's cooling fins are clogged with debris so that the air flow that reduces the coolant temperature is restricted. There may also be an issue if the radiator cap has gone bad and no longer maintains enough pressure in the cooling system, allowing coolant to boil over. Another issue is if the head gasket that seals the gap between the cylinder head and engine block may have failed, allowing coolant to leak inside the combustion chambers. The steam should be visible coming out of the exhaust system. The water pump may also have stopped working or the belt that drives it broke or is slipping and not pumping enough coolant. By checking your engine coolant level in the overflow tank on a regular basis, you can help avoid disasters. If you have to keep topping off the coolant, that's an indication of a small leak that should be taken care of before it becomes a major one. Bring the vehicle in and we can inspect the vehicle for you. The post Why the Radiator Should be Inspected appeared first on Shoreview Exxon.
