Gallery » The 5 most Common Radiator Failures
1. Contamination
Cause:
- Insufficient flushing of the engine cooling system prior to fitting a new radiator. Thic included the engine block, heater system and overflow bottle.
- Inadequate levels of fluid in the system for prolonged periods.
- Inadequate preperation prior to fitting to the radiator, causing contamination of the engine cooling system
- Blockages of the radiators tubes, header plate and tank.
- Reduction in cooling performance and efficiency
- Engine overheating
- Deterioration and failure of critical radiator components causing lossin coolant.
- Regular servicing of the cooling system
- Use Muirs Radiators coolant
- Adequate flushing of cooling system during coolant change which can be achieved by getting Muirs Radiators to flush your cooling sytsem and change your coolant for you
2. Corrosion
Cause:
- Cooling system not being completely flushed out prior to fitting a new radiator. This includes the engine block, heater systems and overflow bottle.
- Mixing of different coolants
- Contamination of the coolant via an additive
- Severly reduced corrosion protection
- Tubes become weak and brittle and eventually develop holes and cracks
- Reduction in cooling performance and efficency leading to conditions such as overheating.
- Loss of coolant
- Regular servicing of cooling system
- Use Muirs Radiators coolant
- Adequate flushing of cooling system during coolant change.
- Top up your cooling system with the same pre-mix currently in your vehicle.
- Get Muirs Radiators to drain, flush and refill your cooling system effectively and correctly
2a. Pitting Corrosion
Cause:
- Cooling system not being completely flushed out prior to fitting a new radiator. This includes the engine block, heater system and overflow bottle
- Mixing different coolants
- Incorrect concentration of coolant either at the time of change or caused by dilution over a period of time
- Inadequate preperation prior to fitting the radiator, causing contamination of the cooling system,
- The mising of coolant / auto transmission fluid
- Coolant enters automatic transmission
- Damaging other cooling system components i.e hoses
- Pitting Corrosion
- Regular servicing of your cooling system
- Use Muirs Radiators coolant
- Adequate flushing of cooling systems during coolant change.
- Top up your cooling system with the same pre-mix coolant currently in your vehicle
- Get Muirs Radiators to drain, flush and refill your cooling system, effectively and correctly.
3. Electolysis
Cause:
- Poor installation of after-market accessories
- Existing stray current problem not diagnosed and/or repaired prior to fitting new radiator
- Poorly grounded electrical components due to vehicle collision damage
- Systematic removal of the corrosion protection layer on the inside of the radiators tubes
- Corrosion of the tubes typically resulting in multiple holes
- Build-up of aluminium oxide blocking passages
- White aluminium oxide powder visable through the inlet and outlet pipes
- Test for stray current in the cooling system
- Repair poor electrical grounding (check aftermarket accessories fitment)
4. Thermal Shock / Stress
Cause:
- Hot/cold coolant and pressure surges slam against the inlet side of the radiator
- Tube fatigue failure
- Leaking tube to core plate inlet pipe
- Leak will only start as slow seepage
- Always use original design radiator - supplied by Muirs Radiators
- Maintenance of coolant is also very important, any corrosion to tube wall will accelerate tube fatigue.
5. Radiator Cap
Cause:
- Cracked gasket
- Swollen gasket
- Missing rubber seal
- Weak spring tension
- Melted by heat
- Coolant leaking from radiator. Pressure not maintained
- Over pressure caused by fluid not being able to be forced over the flow bottle
- When checking the coolant, also check the radiator cap for worn or cracked rubber gaskets. If the cap does not seal properly, fluid will be lost and the engine will overheat.
- A pressure test should be preformed on your radiator cap to ensure it is working properly.
- Muirs Radiators has a wide range of radiator caps suitable for most vehicles. Come in and get your radiator cap replaced.
