A car radiator has the vital function of controlling your engine temperature. Your engine generates large amounts of heat when it’s running, and this heat needs to be removed ASAP. Liquid coolant flowing through your engine absorbs the heat and transfers it to the radiator for removal. These are some signs that you may need to visit your Ford dealer for a radiator repair.
Broken Thermostat
When your engine temperature rises over 180 F, coolant is released and pumped through your engine at high speed. As the coolant passes over hot engine components, it absorbs the heat they generate. The coolant then carries the heat to the radiator. Coolant will continue to cycle through your engine until the temperature falls below 180 F.
Coolant release is governed by a small valve in the engine known as the thermostat. This valve opens in response to a rising engine temperature and releases coolant into the engine. In time, the thermostat can become worn out, and jam closed. A jammed thermostat won’t open when the engine temperature rises, and this can cause your engine to overheat. We can quickly replace the thermostat to fix this problem.
Rising Engine Temperature
Your engine operates most effectively between 185 F and 220 F. As you accelerate, your engine temperature will rise. The thermostat detects the increasing temperature and releases more coolant. Coolant in the engine will be pumped faster to increase heat removal, and your engine temperature will drop again.
If the temperature gauge shows your engine temperature is steadily increasing, there’s a problem with the cooling system. The issue could be caused by a coolant leak, a blocked hose, or a failed thermostat, as we saw above. An increasing engine temperature can cause serious damage to sensitive engine components. We’ll check our cooling system to find the cause of the problem, then we’ll repair it.
Damaged Radiator Hoses
The radiator is connected to the rest of the cooling system by two rubber hoses. These hoses are specially designed to operate at high pressure and under extreme temperatures. Coolant that travels through the hoses can easily reach over 300 F. Over time, even the specially reinforced rubber hoses can be affected by these conditions.
Older hoses lose their elasticity, and this makes them more prone to cracking. Any crack can easily expand into a hole due to the heat and pressure inside a hose. A hole will cause highly-pressurized coolant to leak out, and a coolant leak can rapidly cause your engine to overheat. We’ll examine the hoses and replace them if they’re worn or damaged.
If your car shows signs of overheating, call our service department immediately at Holt Motors Ford of Cokato. Our Ford-trained technicians will identify the problem and fix it for you.
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