by Raymond Alexander Kukkee

Created on: November 11, 2009

Although not a glamorous component of a modern car, the radiator is one of the most essential parts of a vehicle. The radiator is a heat exchanger and serves to cool the engine by radiating, or transferring heat from the engine to the surrounding air. The circulating engine coolant removes heat from the engine, and the radiator in turn dispels the excess heat into the atmosphere with the assistance of a fan and the natural cooling action of air passing through the radiator while the car is in motion.

If a radiator is leaking, an engine can quickly lose coolant and easily overheat, causing extensive damage, even destroying the engine. Ignoring even a small leak can be disastrous.Perhaps your engine temperature gauge has been reading higher than normal, in the red, or the temperature light has already come on several times, indicating an overheating problem.

Not all leaks are visible, so how do you know if a car has a radiator leak? .

Watch for Coloured Puddles, Drips, Droplets, and Leaks
Ethylene glycol or antifreeze is mixed with water and used as engine coolant in most vehicles. It is usually highly coloured fluorescent lime-green, yellow or blue, or it may be an alternative colour, depending upon the brand of antifreeze chosen. Check the colour of the antifreeze in your vehicle. When a leak is suspected, look for similarly coloured drips and puddles under the vehicle after it has been parked overnight by placing a clean sheet of plastic on the floor or ground beneath the radiator. Is there a big puddle or only a few drops? If you do spot a big puddle, your cooling system is already in trouble. It is essential to know how much coolant remains in the engine before you go anywhere, so let's check the coolant levels first.

How to Check Low Coolant Levels
Check the engine coolant reservoir. Most reservoirs are marked to show cooland hot levels. Does the level drop below the cold level mark overnight? Always check the level when the engine is cold for safety reasons. Using a flashlight can help to see the marks and actual level of the liquid in the reservoir. Does the level go down in a few days even if you top it up? If your vehicle does not have a coolant reservoir, remove the radiator cap and inspect the fluid level. It should be visible. *Caution! Never remove a radiator or reservoir cap while the engine is overheating, or hot! Severe burns can result!
If no antifreeze is visible in the radiator or reservoir, leakage is occurring and must be located, but where

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