One of the greatest threats a car engine faces is overheating. Your chief tool to combat that threat is the radiator, which keeps coolant pumping around the engine at a suitably low temperature. With this in mind, the following signs of a faulty radiator should prompt you to visit your nearest Subaru dealership for radiator repair before your engine gets too hot and seizes up.
Does Your Subaru Need a Radiator Repair?
Temperature Gauge Rising
It’s important to respond quickly to any indication that your engine is overheating. If a radiator stops performing its proper function, it won’t take long for the engine’s temperature to rise. This can rapidly lead to blown gaskets and mechanical parts seizing up for good.
Fortunately, the temperature gauge on your instrument panel will warn you at the first hint of overheating: the needle will leave the safe range between 195 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything over 220 degrees is too hot and may cause further damage if you keep driving.
Ticking Noises From the Engine
An overheating engine will also start ticking and making other strange sounds as the mechanical parts start to struggle against each other. Your car will start to lose power, and you may see white vapor rising from under the hood as water in the coolant begins to boil.
External Radiator Rust
Radiators are susceptible to rust damage, especially in humid or colder climates. Regular driving reduces the risk of rust as the warm engine evaporates moisture every morning. But when a car is left unused for several weeks or months, external radiator rust may begin to appear.
If you only see a little rust on the outside of your radiator, you may be able to clean it with a good rust-cleaning product. But if the rust is extensive, your radiator may need to be replaced.
Internal Radiator Rust
Radiators can sometimes rust on the inside too, especially if the coolant degrades and loses its anti-rust properties. Internal rust will turn the coolant a rusty brown color, which you can see in the transparent coolant reservoir. If it’s not too bad, internal rust can be cleaned out by flushing and replacing the coolant a few times.
Leaking Coolant
Aging radiators can sometimes spring a leak in the cap, hose connections, or cracked fins. Leaking coolant will often leave stains on various engine parts under the hood, and it’s also likely to puddle under your car when you’re parked. You might also notice air bubbles in the coolant reservoir where air has gotten in through the leak.
Flush Coolant Frequently at Your Subaru Dealer
As a general rule of thumb, coolant should be flushed every 30,000 miles, which is about every two years for most drivers. At the same time, the technician will examine your radiator and run pressure checks to ensure there are no leaks or other radiator issues.
Visit Sunset Hills Subaru today to have your radiator inspected and repaired. We’re a trusted local dealership that’s been diligently serving the area’s drivers for over 40 years.
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