It is impossible to imagine every modern engine without a car cooling system. Cooling systems began to be installed at the dawn of the automotive industry. The first systems were air-cooled, but now all cars work with a liquid cooling system. The main heat exchange element in this system is the radiator.
The principle of operation of the radiator
Antifreeze, antifreeze or water constantly circulates in the cooling system. The radiator effectively cools the liquid, which circulates in a circle, taking heat from the engine. It is recommended to fill with antifreeze, since at low temperatures water can freeze and rupture the radiator or pipes. However, water can be added in emergency situations when antifreeze cannot be obtained. The main thing is not to forget to drain it and replace it with antifreeze.
Radiator related problems
The main problems with the radiator can be divided into two groups:
- Antifreeze leaks;
- The radiator becomes clogged with various debris and does not work one hundred percent.
It is quite simple to understand that there are problems with the cooling system; if the engine begins to overheat and the temperature begins to rise above 95 degrees, then the system cannot cope with the load. It is possible that the pipe has ruptured, or the radiator may have leaked. Often, an aluminum radiator is damaged as a result of accidents, stones, or careless repairs, because its honeycombs are quite soft, and plastic elements can crack upon impact. Any coolant (coolant) leak must be repaired if you want to avoid costly repairs to an overheated engine.
What can happen if there is a lack of coolant?
If the radiator leaks or the pipe ruptures, the following may happen:
- The cylinder head gasket is deformed;
- When attempting to examine the problem, pressurized liquid may splash into the face, causing burns;
- The engine will seize.
All these troubles can lead to expensive repairs, and damage to health can be irreparable.
Radiator design
A radiator is a lightweight structure made of tubes and plates, usually made of aluminum or brass (previously, heavy cast iron radiators were installed on domestic cars). The radiator is connected to the cooling system through pipes and hoses.
How to fix a radiator leak
One of the reasons that your car radiator is constantly leaking may be a broken radiator cap. Due to old age, the radiator cap may not hold pressure, as a result of which the antifreeze in the system will constantly evaporate. This problem is often invisible to the eye and although the entire system is in order, the antifreeze disappears somewhere. You should replace the cap with a new one and check the antifreeze level after some time. If the level is normal, then the problem is solved.
Radiator fluid often disappears due to wear and tear on the rubber hoses. This is easy to notice by the traces of smudges on the hoses. Such pipes are recommended for replacement, since their repair is not advisable.
The most problematic option is when there is a leak in the radiator itself. Often in such cases, repairs do not help. If there is a large crack in the radiator, it is immediately noticeable by steam and coolant splashes. A large hole can only be repaired in a garage or auto repair shop. Copper or brass can be soldered, aluminum can only be welded with argon. You should know that such repairs are unreliable and even a service station will not give you a guarantee for more than a month.
How to check a radiator for small cracks
A small hole or crack may not be noticed and you may wonder for a long time why the coolant is leaking. If you shine a special lamp on the radiator, you can see traces of drips, since antifreeze contains special coloring agents. Cracks can be repaired using cold welding or sealant.
How to fix a car radiator leak using cold welding
Cold welding is often used to seal small cracks. It should be applied to a cleaned surface from which all contaminants must be removed. When the weld hardens, the crack will be sealed. Such repairs are not very reliable, since under the influence of high temperatures, cold welding loses its properties and becomes colored.
Some car owners, when their radiator is leaking, use “folk” methods to fix the problem. For example, they add dry mustard, which swells due to temperature and covers the cracks with its particles. Such repairs may result in large repair costs in the future. The channels, every thin tube, and even the coolant drain valve will become clogged. A faucet is essential when replacing a radiator, especially if you plan to do it yourself. A clogged tap will prevent you from draining the coolant and there will be problems with replacement. It’s better not to take risks and not use mustard, but to get to the repair site by constantly adding antifreeze.
Repairing a cooling radiator using sealant
Leaking car cooling radiator - elimination
You can hear many stories about how car owners ruined their car engine due to the use of sealant. Often these stories are not fiction. So what should you do, use sealant or not? In fact, high-quality sealants cannot damage the engine; many people simply buy cheap analogues or fakes. It is also extremely important to choose the type of sealant that will help in your case. A properly selected composition will restore the tightness of the cooling system.
Types of sealants
There are three types of sealants:
- Powder;
- Liquid;
- Specialized.
Each of these types can cope with routine radiator repairs, but you need to choose them taking into account the size of the crack or hole.
Powder sealant is the cheapest. Often, instead of a specialized powder, car enthusiasts use mustard, which is not recommended. The powder is simply added to the antifreeze if your radiator is leaking. The main disadvantage of using powder is that it severely clogs the radiator channels and tubes.
Liquid sealant is made with the addition of polymers. These sealants can most often be purchased at car dealerships and gas stations. Metal particles are added to it. Liquid sealant clogs the cooling system much less, the main thing is to choose a quality product and not run into counterfeit products.
In addition to polymers, a specialized sealant also contains fibers, due to which it copes with larger damage. Of course, this is the best option among sealants, the only problem is its high price.
It is necessary to understand that the use of sealant is not a solution to the issue of radiator repair, but will only help to get to the place of global repair if the elements of the cooling system are leaking.
How to use sealant
Brief step-by-step instructions:
- Wait until the antifreeze cools down;
- Open the radiator cap;
- Pour sealant into antifreeze;
- Start the engine for a few minutes;
- Shut down and visually check the system for leaks.
If the damage was minor, the seal should be restored. When using low-quality sealants, you can clog the radiator with particles, damage the pump, disrupt the operation of the thermostat, and cause many more problems with the car. To avoid them, carefully study the information on the packages, look at the protection system and all kinds of holograms. When using, carefully follow the instructions included with the sealant. The main thing to remember is that the system with sealant must be restored in the near future.
To avoid major repairs, you should regularly check the cooling system for the slightest malfunctions and leaks, change hoses and pipes in a timely manner, and monitor the temperature of the antifreeze during operation. Also, do not forget to change the antifreeze, as over time it loses its properties, which can lead to problems with the entire system.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them
The radiator plays an important role in the operation of the engine, so if it becomes depressurized, the car cannot continue moving for a long time. But what should a driver do in such a situation? Next, we will look at how to fix leaks on the road and at home.
1 A few words about the functions of the radiator
As you know, modern cars have a liquid cooling system. The principle of such a system is based on the fact that coolant circulates through the engine and removes heat from it. But the liquid must also be cooled, otherwise it will boil and turn into steam. The radiator, which is a heat exchanger container, is responsible for cooling the liquid. Its design is quite simple - the base is copper or aluminum tubes connected by plates. The latter form a so-called honeycomb, which allows the radiator to be completely ventilated.
The heat exchanger is located immediately behind the radiator grille, i.e. in front of the engine. Thanks to this, the wind flow cools the liquid while moving. If it becomes depressurized, coolant leaks out of the system, causing the engine to overheat. With an empty radiator, of course, you cannot continue driving or even start the engine, as this will lead to serious and expensive engine repairs.
2 Don’t rush to blame the radiator for everything
So, while you are on the road, you notice that the temperature gauge needle has gone up. You must immediately stop driving and turn off the engine. Do not rush to open the radiator cap, as a column of steam may escape and cause a burn. Therefore, you need to wait a few minutes, especially if the liquid has boiled.
While the radiator is cooling, visually inspect it and the pipes suitable for it and try to find the place of depressurization. Most often, the reason for depressurization of the cooling system is not a hole in the radiator, but a poor-quality connection of the pipes. It must be said that it is easiest to find the place of depressurization in winter, since in this case, while the liquid is hot, steam is clearly visible at the leak site. In the warm season, you need to carefully inspect each pipe and pay maximum attention to the connections.
If the reason is really a poor connection of one of the pipes, you just need to tighten the clamp. If the pipe has a crack, you can temporarily apply a patch to get to the nearest parts store. To do this, wrap it with a piece of rubber, for example, a piece of inner tube, and tighten it with clamps. In extreme cases, you can even use electrical tape.
After eliminating the leak, you need to open the radiator cap and add fluid. If you don’t have antifreeze on hand, add clean water (boiled or purified). This will allow you to get to the auto shop or the nearest service station without any negative consequences for the engine.
If no leak was found, unscrew the radiator cap and look into the neck. If the fluid level is normal, then the cause of overheating is due to contamination of the radiator, and not to its depressurization. In this case, you need to let the engine cool down, then drive to a service station or garage and
3 The radiator leaked on the road - we are looking for the nearest grocery store
If your worst fears are confirmed, i.e. If you notice that the radiator is leaking, do not rush to call a tow truck. To temporarily fix a leak on the road, you can use some “old-fashioned” methods:
- pour a raw egg into the neck of the radiator, which, when heated, will turn into flakes and clog a crack or hole;
- Pour ground black pepper, mustard powder or flour into the neck. Any of these powders will clog into the gap and thereby “tighten” it. I must say that mustard powder copes best with this task.
All these means will only allow you to temporarily eliminate the leak in order to get to your destination. Then the radiator will definitely need to be repaired and thoroughly washed. It should be understood that adding any components to the coolant is a last resort. Therefore, if you are lucky and find a leak without removing the radiator, it is better to seal the leak from the outside. True, this can be done if you have automotive sealant on hand.
To seal the hole, you will first have to drain the coolant by unscrewing the tap under the radiator. If you do not drain the liquid, it will ooze through the hole and the sealant will not harden. Then the damaged area must be thoroughly wiped so that it is dry and clean. After this, you need to apply sealant to the hole and wait a while for it to harden. Upon completion of the repair, coolant should be poured into the container.
Such road repairs will take you more time, but you do not risk clogging the cooling system, which is especially important for modern cars with narrow ducts.
4 The miracle remedy will heal the hole, but not for long
There are special products in auto shops that can eliminate radiator leaks from the inside. Kuhler Dichter from Liqui Moly is especially popular among motorists. The principle of operation of this product is the same as that of the traditional methods described above, the only thing is that the filler here is safe polymer additives. They fill the crack, but do not harm the cooling system. The cost of a Kuhler Dichter can with a capacity of 0.125 liters is 1,330 rubles.
It is better to refuse to purchase cheap products, since no one will give you a guarantee that they are not made on the basis of the same mustard or pepper. It’s even worse if cement is added to the product, as this will lead to blockage of the channels and, as a result, boiling of the engine.
All such products that are added to antifreeze are also a temporary measure. Therefore, in any case, you will have to dismantle the radiator and perform more serious repairs.
5 Repair at home - giving the radiator a second life
Before starting the repair, you need to drain the liquid from the radiator, then disconnect it from the pipes and dismantle it. As practice shows, in most cases it is not easy to find a hole or crack even after dismantling the heat exchanger. In this case, you can do the following to detect it:
- close the radiator holes and immerse it in a container of water. As a result, bubbles will begin to emerge from the damaged area;
- connect a compressor to the container, as a result of which you will hear where the air is coming from.
Further actions depend on what material the container is made of. If the tube is aluminum, then it is unlikely that it will be possible to solder it properly at home. In this case, it is better to use cold welding. Repair is carried out as follows:
- The damaged area must be cleaned of dirt and dried.
- Then the surface must be treated with a degreaser.
- Glue must be applied to the prepared area, after which the part must be left for a couple of hours.
If the radiator is made of copper or brass, it must be soldered. To do this, you will need a powerful soldering iron - at least 250 W. You must first remove scale from the soldering area and then degrease the surface. The soldering process itself is standard - first, rosin is applied in an even layer, after which solder is applied.
To avoid welding or gluing, for example, if access to a hole is difficult, you can simply clamp the damaged tube. The radiators are designed in such a way that this measure will not affect the efficiency of the cooling system, unless, of course, one of the central lines is damaged. But it is simply impossible to physically clamp down the central highways.
That’s probably all we wanted to tell you about radiator leaks. As you can see, this situation is unpleasant, but not hopeless.
Any car engine generates a huge amount of heat during operation and, if not for the cooling system, its normal operation would be impossible. The heat transfer of the main engine components is low, so any engine is equipped with a forced cooling system - they were installed even on the very first cars. Currently The most common system is liquid, the main element of which is the radiator.
In such systems, there is a constant circulation of fluid, which takes the heat generated in the engine and releases it to the environment. To make this process more efficient, a cooling radiator is installed that has a sufficiently large contact area with air. Antifreeze, antifreeze or plain water can be poured into the system itself - depending on the desires of the motorist. It should be remembered that when using water, operating the car becomes impossible in subzero temperatures.
Radiator problems need to be addressed immediately
The most common cooling system problems that car owners have to deal with are two:
- constant leakage of coolant and radiator;
- coking of the radiator, which leads to difficulty in circulating fluid throughout the cooling system.
Advice! The fact that the cooling system is not working correctly can be judged by the constant overheating of the engine, even after a very short period of use of the car. This is fraught with the occurrence of quite serious problems with the power unit and the need for expensive repair work on it.
The most common cause of damage to the integrity of the radiator housing is strong mechanical impact. The relatively thin walls of the radiator can be damaged during repair work or when foreign objects get into it when the car is moving. Quite often, leaks are also observed at the places where the pipes exit the radiator. Whatever the reason for the leak, it must be repaired immediately, since operating a car with a faulty radiator is simply dangerous.
What is the danger of a constant coolant leak?
Among the most common dangers that are fraught with constant leaks of coolant from the radiator include, first of all, engine overheating, caused by the inability of the cooling system to effectively remove the heat generated in the engine. It is worth knowing that overheating of the cylinder head leads to a rapid change in its configuration and damage to the integrity of the gasket. In addition, if the temperature sensor signals are ignored and the car continues to be driven, the engine may simply seize - this always results in very expensive repairs.
A leak from the radiator can have unpleasant consequences not only for the car itself, but also for humans. This is due to the fact that during operation of the power unit a fairly high pressure is formed in the cooling system, and the temperature of the liquid circulating in it cannot be called low. In the event that the driver opens the hood in an attempt to find out why the engine overheated, a small crack in the radiator, under the influence of hot liquid and high pressure, can suddenly increase, causing a kind of geyser of boiling water. If it comes into contact with the skin, it will cause very serious thermal burns requiring medical attention.
How to quickly fix a leak
Since operating a vehicle with a current radiator is not possible, the problem must be urgently resolved. As a rule, small cracks in the radiator housing, which can only be detected when the engine is running, can be eliminated independently and quite easily by using appropriate sealing compounds.
If the leak is more severe and is detected even when the car is turned off, this may indicate a violation of the integrity of the radiator due to a breakdown or intense corrosion processes occurring inside. They often start when the driver has chosen the wrong antifreeze/antifreeze. Then the cracks are large in size, and the situation cannot be corrected with sealant - either the radiator will need to be replaced, or it will need to be dismantled and then soldered. How to work with sealant is shown in the video:
Before starting repair work, you should make sure that it is the radiator that is leaking, and not the pipes. If a leak is detected visually and its size is small, the best way to solve the problem is to use a special sealant. It is capable of high-quality sealing of small cracks, is distinguished by its high efficiency and ease of independent use. This composition is especially convenient on the road, because when the cooling radiator leaks, and there is no specialized service or just a populated area nearby, further movement may be impossible.
If the damage is serious
The question of how to fix a cooling radiator leak if the crack is large is not so easy to solve. Especially if the leak is caused by corrosion. The only repair option in this case will be soldering, which will require dismantling it. At the same time, you should be aware that soldering the radiator requires some experience, and if you do not have knowledge in this area, you should not even start doing it yourself - this may result in the need to replace it with a new one.
The algorithm for dismantling the cooling radiator is almost the same for all cars:
- From the cooling system all the liquid is drained. If the work was preceded by engine operation, you should wait at least one hour for the engine to cool down. The process of draining the liquid can occur in two ways - through the drain holes provided by the design or through the lower radiator pipe, if they are absent. A container for collecting antifreeze should be prepared in advance.
- After freeing yourself from fluid, you should disconnect all pipes/hoses. Then comes the turn of the electrical part - the wires from the sensors and the fan are disconnected. Depending on the specific car model, it can be removed either with or without the fan.
After all the manipulations are completed, you will need to pay a little attention to the process of its external cleaning. A clean heat exchanger will make the entire cooling system more efficient, which will inevitably have a positive effect on the functioning of the power unit.
Is repair always possible?
If the cooling radiator leaks, but the crack is not large, you can fix it yourself. But not in the case when it is located at the junction of the radiator itself and the plastic pipe - such a malfunction is considered irreparable. As a temporary measure, for example, on the road, or if it is impossible to immediately purchase a new one, it is permissible to use epoxy glue or sealant.
If there are one or more small cracks through which antifreeze escapes “drop by drop,” a special sealant that is added to the cooling system will help achieve an optimal and quick result. Its composition includes special components that tighten small cracks, completely sealing the radiator.
Important! After adding the sealant, you can continue to use the car, since the sealant takes a relatively short time to start working and the leakage stops.
Many motorists do not know what to do when the radiator leaks due to corrosion. In this case, no sealant will help, and the radiator can only be repaired by soldering. This procedure is complex, and is performed only with sufficient experience and appropriate equipment. It is equally difficult to restore the functionality of the radiator if it has serious mechanical damage, for example, after an accident. In some cases, it may be necessary to use argon welding.
When carrying out repair work on a radiator yourself, and especially for the first time, you should be prepared for the fact that the work done will have to be redone. It is visually impossible to determine whether all the cracks are repaired on the removed radiator - this becomes obvious only after installing it and starting the engine. If, after half an hour of the car idling, the leak does not manifest itself, then the result has been achieved. If the leak continues, work will have to start all over again.
Sometimes it happens that a driver discovers a wet spot under the hood of his car, and after examining the contents of the sputum, he concludes that it is coolant, which means radiator leaking. If the leak is not significant at all, then the problem can be solved, as they say, with little effort; for this it is enough to resort to the help of special additives (liquid sealants), which can eliminate car radiator leak. However, it is worth remembering that improper use of liquid sealants can lead to the fact that the radiator honeycombs and elements of the cooling system may become clogged, which will lead to a critical failure and, as a consequence, complete failure with subsequent major repairs. It is important to strictly follow the instructions for using these additives so that a minimum amount of them gets into the system. It is best to add the additive before a long trip so that it is evenly distributed throughout the entire cooling system.
How to use liquid sealant for a car's engine cooling system
- Dissolve half the container in a liter of coolant, preferably warmed up to room temperature, and mix or shake thoroughly.
- The next step is to warm up the engine to 50 degrees. The cooling system pipes should be warm (not hot), then turn off the engine and fill half of it! prepared mixture into the expansion tank.
- We start the engine and let it run for one hour with the heater on, preferably with the car in motion. During this time, all elements will warm up well, and the sealant will have time to dissolve and penetrate into leaks.
- Over the course of one week, we constantly monitor the level of coolant in the expansion barrel, in case of a decrease without sealant. If after this the level drops again, add the second half of the previously prepared mixture with sealant. Usually after the second time radiator leak stops.
The above method of using a stopping additive car radiator leak will help avoid failure of the cooling system. Repeatedly tested on machines from different manufacturers.
The role of the radiator in the engine cooling system of any modern car cannot be overestimated. This device continuously removes excess heat from the engine and dissipates it into the ambient air. A working radiator guarantees an optimal engine temperature at which it will operate at full power without failure. If the radiator breaks down, the engine parts quickly overheat, which contributes to engine failure and subsequent expensive repairs. We can conclude that every car enthusiast should have at least a general idea of what to do if the radiator leaks. Only timely measures taken in the event of a problem being detected can effectively eliminate it at an early stage and avoid large unplanned financial losses.
The occurrence of a breakdown of any part of a vehicle is always an unpleasant surprise; a radiator leak, which can happen at any time with any car, is no exception to the general rule. And it’s good if the malfunction was discovered while the car was in the garage. It’s much worse if the radiator leaks during a country trip, for example, when there are no service stations nearby and it’s a long way back home. However, even a novice motorist who has some ideas about the features of repairing a leaking radiator can get out of this situation quite well.
Types of radiator leaks and ways to eliminate them
The first step is to find out exactly where in the radiator the leak occurred and establish the extent of the defect. The smallest holes and microcracks, which most often form in the radiator housing, can be easily eliminated using special sealants. The method of using these substances is very simple: you need to pour the sealant into the radiator or into the coolant reservoir and wait a while. Together with the coolant, the sealant begins to circulate throughout the cooling system until it leaks through the radiator crack. After interacting with air, the leaked sealant forms a durable polymer film around the damaged surface, thereby returning the cooling system to its previous tightness. After this procedure, the driver can continue driving to the nearest service station, where specialists will perform a more thorough inspection of the car followed by professional repair of the leaking radiator.
After using such substances, it is best to completely flush the cooling system to eliminate the risk of clogging in the future.
Repairing large cracks will require the use of a heat-resistant adhesive sealant, also known as cold welding. This composite material has a consistency similar to plasticine, making “cold welding” easy to apply to any, even the most inaccessible area of the radiator. The composition of the substance contains various fillers (quartz, metal powder, iron oxide, etc.), which contribute to the strong welding of the damaged radiator housing.
The procedure for repairing a radiator using “cold welding”
- The damaged surface to which the repair compound will be applied is, if possible, cleaned of various contaminants as much as possible and dried.
- A piece of the required size is cut from the “cold welding” rod and kneaded in your hands for 4-5 minutes (until the material looks like a homogeneous and monochromatic mass).
- Next, the material is applied to the damaged surface of the radiator, after which, to obtain an even seam, it should be smoothed with any tool with a flat surface that has previously been moistened with water.
Cold welding sets in just 10-15 minutes, and after 1-2 hours (depending on the properties of the composition used), the radiator can be operated as usual.
After performing repair work in this case, as in the previous one, it is best to visit a service station for a qualified diagnosis of the condition of the radiator.
Precautions when working with cold welding
Repairs must be carried out wearing protective gloves. Do not allow the composition to get into your eyes. If this does happen, you should rinse your eyes with plenty of water and seek medical help at the nearest hospital.
Preventive measures
As a preventive measure, the engine compartment of the car should be periodically inspected. Visual inspection should be carried out:
- Oil and coolant levels.
- Conditions of terminals, connecting hoses and tubes.
- Places of possible radiator leaks, etc.
These simple steps will help you avoid many problems that may arise in the future.
Today on the Internet you can find a huge number of forums where there is an active discussion of various ways to repair a radiator yourself. Folk “craftsmen” claim that a leaking radiator can be restored using mustard powder, a raw chicken egg, or even chewing gum. Of course, each driver decides for himself whether to follow such advice or not. However, numerous breakdowns, which are often the result of such amateur activities, indicate that it is best to refrain from following these tips.
