How Much Does It Cost To Fix a Radiator?
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The engine in your vehicle gets hot, really, really hot. That’s just one of the natural side effects of using combustion for power. While this makes sense, and the heat is a requirement, engines operate best at certain temperatures.
If the engine is too cool it requires more fuel to run, making it inefficient, and if it’s too hot then the components begin to overheat and are damaged over time.
To maintain the optimal temperature, your vehicle has a cooling system, helping to prevent it from getting too hot. In this article we’re looking at one of the main components in that system, the radiator.
What Does the Radiator Do?
Simply put, the radiator keeps the engine of the vehicle cool. In order to do this, the cooling system is filled with coolant, which is pushed through the engine using a pump.
How does the coolant actually drop the temperature of the engine? Here’s where the radiator plays its part.
The radiator consists of a metal core affixed with metal fins. As the coolant passes through the radiator, it cools thanks to the surface area of the radiator, which stays cooler than the engine thanks to fans pushing cool air over it.
This helps keep the coolant at the optimal temperature for your engine to function efficiently.
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How to Identify a Bad Radiator
There are several ways to identify a radiator that is damaged or has experienced some form of failure. Some are simpler than others, but typically, a bad radiator is easy to identify.
Overheating
If your vehicle is overheating, that’s a very good sign that your radiator may be experiencing some issues. Overheating presents serious issues for the vehicle, and causes engine damage if the problem persists.
Many vehicles have a safeguard in place that will shut the vehicle off should the engine begin to overheat, preventing damage. While your radiator may be the issue when it comes to overheating, the radiator fans could also play a part. If significant airflow is not made available to the radiator, it may not keep the coolant at the temperature it needs to be.
If ignored, the damage caused by overheating can vary. Short term issues can include engine knock, if overheating is kept to a minimum. The hotter the engine gets, however, the more severe the damage.
At its worst, overheating can cause shattered spark plugs, blown head gaskets, the warping of components. It can get to the point where none of the engine is able to be salvaged.
Leaking Coolant
If your vehicle is leaking coolant, you’ll know it. In most cooling systems, there is a lot of coolant, and it is under pressure! When the vehicle reaches temperature, the coolant is at its hottest and the coolant is under the most pressure.
Leaks will occur in the form of coolant spewing from the radiator as steam if the vehicle reaches a high enough temperature, coming from cracks or holes in the core, or from broken seals around the tubes and possibly the radiator cap.
When inspecting your radiator for coolant leaks, do so when the vehicle is cool. If not, you run the risk of being burned by hot coolant! It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the rubber hoses that connect the radiator to the cooling system.
While your radiator may not be leaking, these hoses could be, as they are prone to degrading and leaking over time. The rubber is stressed by constant heating and cooling as it ages.
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Coolant Issues
While leaking coolant can be a problem, there are other issues involving your radiator that can be identified by taking a look at the coolant itself. If your coolant is sludgy in appearance, there’s a chance that the radiator has buildups or deposits in it.
If that’s the case, the cooling system needs to be looked at by a mechanic. Deposits can cause further damage to the cooling system, causing a much bigger headache down the line if things get much worse.
Looking at the level of your coolant can be an indicator of radiator damage as well. If your coolant levels stay consistently low, there’s a chance that the radiator has a leak that isn’t as easy to identify as the ones mentioned above.
Repairing Your Radiator
According to Repair Pal, the bulk of the cost in radiator replacement is the parts. Since the radiator is made of aluminum, or brass or copper in some cases, radiators cost quite a bit. [](https://repairpal.com/estimator/radiator-replacement-cost)
Repair Pal estimates that the parts for a radiator replacement will, on average, cost around $416. Labor is considerably less expensive than the parts themselves, ranging from $221 to $279. This puts your repair cost around $637 to $695 total.
While radiator replacements are somewhat costly, the actual replacement is straightforward should you have the time to do one yourself. The process consists of draining the coolant from the system, and removing any parts that may be in the way of the radiator for removal.
When inspecting your radiator for replacement, it’s a good idea to check the hoses as well. Since they’re most commonly made out of rubber, they are prone to degrading over time.
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Keep it Cool
Overheating is a silent killer when it comes to your car’s engine. While it may not seem like a huge deal if your vehicle overheats occasionally, it’s important to realize that the continued damage caused by overheating can significantly reduce the life of your vehicle. Your radiator is one of the major players in keeping your vehicle cool.
If you suspect radiator damage in your vehicle, be sure to check for overheating as one of the first signs of an issue arising. Inspect your radiator, looking for coolant leaks, but be sure to do so when the vehicle is cool!
If you can’t find any visible leaks, check the coolant itself. If it’s sludgy, or the levels are low, take it in to have it looked at. Your radiator keeps your vehicle alive, keep it in good health!
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