Can a clogged radiator cause overheating?

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asked Dec 23, 2021 in Repairs/Maintenance by Rick889797 (1,250 points)
Can a clogged radiator cause overheating?

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answered Dec 23, 2021 by Saltydogg (2,150 points)
A clogged radiator can cause overheating.

When the radiator is clogged it does not allow the engine coolant to flow freely through the engine and radiator and so the heat builds up and causes the engine to overheat.

The radiator works to help cool the coolant as it flows through it to also cool the engine and when the radiator is clogged it cannot cool the coolant or engine properly.

Changing a radiator in a vehicle is usually pretty easy.

However on some vehicles the hardest part about changing a radiator is actually removing all the stuff to get to the radiator itself.

Replacing a radiator is not all that hard.

However you have to drain the coolant and remove the hoses and on some cars the radiator is surrounded by a lot of things you have to remove.

So in those cases it could take hours to remove the radiator.

On some vehicles it's as simple as removing the fans, fan shroud, hoses etc and then the radiator slides right out.

Radiator Stop leak does work to stop some radiator leaks.

As long as the radiator is not too damaged and not leaking too much and you follow the directions on the bottle of radiator stop leak it will work.

Radiator Stop leak works great when used as directed although you should still plan on replacing the radiator when possible.

More severe radiator leaks will require a radiator replacement.

Rust, Corrosion, Too much pressure in the radiator etc can all cause a radiator to crack.

A radiator can crack due to corrosion, stress on the radiator, too much pressure on the radiator etc.

Rust can also destroy the metal in the Radiator causing a crack in the radiator.

A faulty Thermostat or a Leaking Head Gasket can cause Overheating or High Coolant Pressure inside the Radiator which can lead to a cracked radiator.

If you do not change your coolant enough, the radiator can start to corrode and crack over time.

The signs and symptoms of a bad radiator are corrosion, leaks from the radiator, radiator bulging, sludge build up in the radiator, radiator fins blocked.

Another common sign that your radiator could be bad is your engine is overheating.

The 4 signs that your radiator is bad include.

Your vehicle is overheating. If your vehicle constantly overheats, especially under normal driving conditions, this is one of the most common signs that your radiator is bad or failing. ...
Your vehicle is leaking coolant.
Sludge build up in your radiator.
Low coolant levels.

A radiator can crack due to corrosion, stress on the radiator, too much pressure on the radiator etc.

Rust can also destroy the metal in the Radiator causing a crack in the radiator.

A faulty Thermostat or a Leaking Head Gasket can cause Overheating or High Coolant Pressure inside the Radiator which can lead to a cracked radiator.

If you do not change your coolant enough, the radiator can start to corrode and crack over time.

You cannot operate a car with a cracked radiator, you should have it fixed right away, because the radiator will build up pressure when it is hot and the coolant will be pushed out very fast and the leaking holes will gradually get bigger and more coolant will come out of the radiator.

Too much pressure built up in the radiator can cause a radiator to explode or burst.

The pressure buildup in the radiator that causes the radiator to explode can be caused by a clog in the radiator, restriction, bad radiator cap, lime buildup etc.

The thermostat does not have to be changed when changing the radiator.

However if you're removing the hoses and replacing the radiator then it may be a good idea to replace the thermostat as well.

And if the radiator hoses are 10 years old or older it would be good to replace the radiator hoses at the same time you're replacing the radiator.

You can run a car or drive a car without a thermostat.

However if you run the car or drive the car without the thermostat then the engine won' reach it's operating temperature and the heater will usually not blow hot air.

If you drive without a thermostat, your engine will never reach its optimal operating temperature and your heater may blow cold air.

It happens because driving without a thermostat tricks your engine into thinking it is cold outside, causing it to adjust the gas mixing valve and push more fuel to the engine.

The thermostat opens and closes to keep the engine from overheating and to keep the engine at the proper operating temperature.

So it's best to have a thermostat in the engine although running the engine for a short amount of time without a thermostat if needed is okay.

Your car thermostat is an important part of your cooling system.

As the coolant gets hotter, the thermostat opens, allowing coolant to flow through to the radiator to be cooled.

The thermostat then opens and closes to keep the engine within a certain temperature range.

A engine thermostat is really cheap and worth the money to replace as it keeps your engine working properly and keeps your heater working as well.

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