If your truck’s radiator is bad, do not worry. We can replace it. The average lifespan of a radiator is about 10 years. If you take excellent care of your truck’s cooling system, you will likely get 10 years out of the radiator. If you’ve had the vehicle for a decade and are having the following problems, the radiator has reached the end of its life and it needs to be replaced.
Leaking Coolant
A bad radiator will start to leak coolant. This is because the radiator corrodes over the years. As with any corrosion on metal, the corrosion will eat through the metal. Consequently, you will have holes in the bottom of the radiator. The coolant will leak out of these holes.
Rusted Radiator
If you suspect that your radiator is corroded, remove the cap when the engine is cold and take a look at the coolant. You may be able to see rust flakes in the coolant, or the color of the coolant may be orange. Either of these things suggests that the radiator is rusted.
Clogged Inlets
One of the things that the radiator does is reduce the coolant’s temperature after it has circulated through the engine. This ensures you always have cold coolant circulating through the engine to absorb the engine’s heat. The radiator uses air inlets that are called fins to draw air in from the outside to reduce the coolant’s temperature. These things can get clogged with dirt.
Damaged Inlets
The fins can also get damaged by debris that is small enough to fit through your vehicle’s grille. If the inlets are dented, it may reduce the amount of air that can flow through them. The road debris can also cause damage to the radiator. Whether it is the radiator or the radiator fins that are damaged, the unit must be replaced in order to resolve the problem.
Overheating
Finally, all of the above is going to make your truck’s engine overheat every time that you drive the vehicle. Unfortunately, if you ignore this problem, you can cause serious engine damage including a cracked head gasket. Avoid driving your truck if it is overheating.
We are here to help, so call us today to schedule a service appointment for your truck. We will inspect the radiator and replace it if it is corroded or damaged. We can also inspect the rest of your cooling system to make sure everything is okay.