Damaged Radiator Fins. When Should You Replace the Radiator and Why Is It Crucial?

Do you see the multiple thin pieces of slanted metal on your radiator? That's what you call radiator fins, which are responsible for dissipating the heat produced underneath the hood evenly and in an efficient manner. And just like with any car component, there comes a time when you need to replace it, along with the radiator. So when is the best time to replace the radiator?

Cooling equipment problems highlights

• Level of urgency:medium
• Commonreasons:low-quality antifreeze, age, mileage, damage
• DIY diagnostics:very complicated
• DIY repair:impossible
• Price of repair:$350 - $850
• Time for repair:3 - 10 hours
• If ignored:engine overheating, bad coolant leaks, equipment damage

When to Replace the Radiator?

Performance is what usually dictates when to replace your car's radiator. When it's not starting to perform the way you wanted it to, it's likely time for you to get a replacement. And in this section, you will learn what factors greatly affect a radiator's performance and, in turn, require you to replace it with a new, better one.

1) Corrosion

A long-time enemy of machines, corrosion can greatly reduce a radiator's effectiveness by blocking the pathways that allow heat and coolant to pass through. And while you can use a commercial solution or a homemade solution, like baking soda mixed with vinegar, to help clean out the corroded parts, it can be too late for that if left alone for too long.

One part of the radiator that's highly susceptible to this is the radiator fins. Because they're located outside, they bear the full force of external factors like the weather.

To prevent this from happening, consider investing in a radiator guard. This helps keep your radiator safe and protects it from taking in too much moisture that can lead to rust and, eventually, corrosion.

2) Engine Overheating

Another common symptom to look out for is when the car's engine starts overheating during one of your regular drives. If either visible steam is coming out from under the hood or the temperature gauge inside your car starts flashing, there's something wrong with the radiator.

3) Leaking Coolant

As mentioned earlier, most radiators have a lifespan of anywhere between eight and ten years. Beyond that, the radiator will start showing signs of wear and tear that can cause you problems when it comes to regulating the temperature of your car's internal systems.

The most common symptom that all old radiators share is a puddle of coolant forming underneath the car. Coolant leaks are nothing new and don't always mean that you're due for a new radiator.

However, if your radiator passes the standard lifespan, it will show signs like coolant leaks because of cracks and spaces forming in multiple areas. Even if you try to replace the broken parts with something brand new, it's just prolonging the inevitable.

4) Damaged Radiator Fins

Lastly, finding yourself in a fender-bender collision is a quick way to accumulate enough damage to your radiator to warrant a replacement. Specifically, the damage done to the radiator fins is one of the sole reasons why you'll need to replace the radiator.

And while there are ways to bend the radiator fins back to how they were originally, a head-on collision is enough to warp the delicate metal in a way that forces you to replace the radiator anyway.

Also, take note that a strong enough impact can cause severe damage to the internal parts of the radiator. In some cases, the radiator fins will break apart and bend inward, causing them to puncture the internal parts of the radiator beyond repair.

Your best bet is to replace the entirety of the radiator, as well as any other car part that sustained major damage. If you're lucky, the damage is not so severe that you can still keep using the radiator, provided that you bend the radiator fins back into shape.

5) Engine Upgrade

Unlike the rest of this list, an engine upgrade requires you to replace the radiator whether or not it is not in good condition. Even a perfectly working radiator is not safe from this.

Why?

That's because it probably can't handle the new engine. Usually, an engine upgrade means that your car is now using a far more powerful engine than normal. That means generating more heat for your radiator to cool down.

Unfortunately, the original radiator probably can't handle that amount since a radiator has a limit on how much heat it can efficiently absorb and cool down. As such, you will also need a radiator upgrade that can match up with the new engine.

Why Is It Important to Replace the Radiator?

The number one reason why you need to replace your car's radiator is to prevent your engine from overheating. As previously discussed, the radiator is responsible for regulating the temperature of your car's internal system. Without it, you're just a few drives away from suffering a total engine failure that can cost you a lot of money to repair.

And even before that could ever happen, you'll most likely feel frustrated if your car's engine dies repeatedly due to it overheating. As such, not only will your car's overall performance significantly drop, but so too will your pleasure from driving.

One last thing is money. It's simply not cost-efficient to repeatedly repair and replace parts of the radiator while also going through multiple instances of your engine dying while driving. If you want the best value for your money, it's better to invest in a new, better radiator than try to stick it out with your old one.

How to Prolong a Radiator's Lifespan?

A typical radiator's lifespan is between eight and ten years. However, certain factors can come into play and reduce that amount, requiring you to replace the radiator earlier than expected. So, what can you do to help prolong the radiator's lifespan?

For starters, don't skip out on your car's annual maintenance. This is to make sure that every part of your car is in good working order. Also, it allows you to identify problems early on that can become more complicated in the future if left undiscovered.

Also, replacing the coolant every 30,000 to 50,000 miles will go a long way in prolonging the radiator's lifespan as well. For those that often go on frequent long drives, this is a must.

Contaminated coolant can cause blockages, which can lead to rust and cause your car's engine to overheat. Flushing out the radiator at a scheduled time is something that all drivers must do to keep the radiator in good working condition.

On that note, reducing the amount of mileage will also go a long way in prolonging your radiator's lifespan. Cut down on short trips using your car if you can either get there on foot or by commuting. This not only preserves your car's performance, but it also saves you gas money as well.

Lastly, consider upgrading your radiator to a higher-quality one made out of brass or aluminum. Radiators made out of plastic are less durable and more likely to crack and cause a leak when expanding due to the heat produced by the car's engine.

How To Repair Damaged Radiator Fins?

Due to how thin radiator fins are, they're quite delicate. As such, it's quite easy to bend them out of place with even the slightest force. So if you did accidentally bend a few out of place, don't fret, as there are a couple of ways to resolve this.

The first is by using a pair of pliers to bend them back into shape. Do this carefully to avoid causing any further damage.

And the second is using a radiator fin comb. You insert these in between the spaces where they can glide through the affected areas. From there, you simply apply a little bit of pressure to gently comb the radiator fins back to normal.

Conclusion

In short, the best time to replace the radiator is when it's not working at optimal efficiency. Damaged radiator fins due to a resulting collision are an obvious sign that you need to replace your radiator. However, some signs, like coolant leaks and the engine overheating, require you to take a closer look at the radiator to determine whether or not it's time to find a replacement part for it.

Also, don't try to save money by cutting corners. As much as possible, invest in a sturdy and well-built radiator so that it will last longer and handle the rigors of extreme temperatures better. Remember, the best way to save money is by investing in quality pieces that won't break down quickly and will stand the test of time.