3 Signs Your Ford Needs its Radiator Serviced

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The radiator is an essential part of your engine as it removes heat. Excessive heat can damage sensitive engine components, and your engine generates large quantities of heat that must be removed. As time passes, the radiator can become worn or damaged, and the engine temperature will increase. As your Ford dealer, we want you to know some signs you need to visit us for a radiator service.

 

Rising Engine Temperature

Liquid coolant is pumped through the engine, absorbing heat as it moves. This heat is transported to the radiator, where the coolant enters rows of thin aluminum tubes. Airflow through the radiator grille passes over the tubes and removes the heat by heat exchange. The cooling system can speed up or slow down in response to the rise or fall in engine temperature.

If your temperature gauge shows an increase in engine temperature for no apparent reason, you could have a radiator problem. The radiator could be blocked, the coolant may leak, or the fan may have failed. We advise calling our service department immediately. Our technicians will examine your cooling system and find and repair the problem.

Leaking Coolant

As we’ve seen, liquid coolant is vital for your cooling system. It’s a mixture of antifreeze and water and can absorb heat. The cooling system is pressurized to enable the coolant to move quickly. As time passes, a hole or other leak site in the system will cause a coolant loss and a resulting drop in system pressure.

As the system pressure drops, the coolant’s movement will slow down. This increases engine temperature, as the excess heat isn’t being removed fast enough. As the heat accumulates, sensitive components like gaskets and seals can fail, and your engine could suffer major damage. We’ll find the leak and repair it, then refill the coolant.

Jammed Thermostat

The thermostat controls the release of coolant. Once the engine temperature hits a pre-set level, the thermostat opens, and releases coolant. Over time, the thermostat can fail, and it will jam. If the thermostat jams open, coolant will be continually released into the engine. This lowers the operating temperature, making your engine less efficient and increasing fuel consumption.

A thermostat that jams closed won’t release coolant, and this will cause your engine to overheat in minutes. We can quickly replace the thermostat to fix this issue.

If you think you have a cooling problem, contact us ASAP at Chestatee Ford in Dahlonega, GA.

Posted in Chestatee Ford Service, Ford Cars | No Comments »