You probably know this, but we’ll say it anyway: the radiator at the front of your vehicle is probably THE key component in your cooling system. As hot engine coolant is pumped through, your radiator uses exterior air (either while you’re driving or from a fan) to cool the coolant so that it can be pumped back into the engine and remove more heat. This hot/cold cycle continues as long as your engine is running.
Understanding how your radiator works can help you find ways to protect it. From physical damage to internal debris and corrosion, there are many factors that can degrade the performance of your radiator or even cause a leak. We’ve put together this list of ways you can protect your radiator and ensure proper cooling. Consider these points and be proactive to keep your radiator in good shape for as long as you own your car.
What Can Harm Your Radiator
Due to its location at the front of your vehicle, your radiator is susceptible to a lot of road dirt, debris and damage. One way to protect your radiator is to install a protective mesh. These products are designed to catch rocks and other road debris that could damage the fins or, worse, break a tube and allow coolant to leak out of your radiator. Most modern front-end grills do a decent job of this, but a mesh takes protection one step furher.
Bug mesh screens are also a good idea and help keep your radiator clean and free from bugs, leaves and other small dirt that can clog your radiator fins. Once they get clogged, air can’t pass through and moisture and road salt can cause corrosion to eat through your radiator and create a coolant leak.
However, if you have an older car and are worried about coolant leaks from your radiator or have already sprung a small leak, it’s time to take action. Here at Bar’s Leaks, we have a number of products designed to stop cooling system leaks permanently – in fact, these products are how we built our legendary reputation.
You can find a store near you that sells our products using our online locator tool, or check out major retailers like Amazon and Walmart to order our products online. A little bit of prevention goes a long way, so consider treating your radiator to a bit of protection and help it last longer.
