Coughlin Nissan of Heath

Sep 29, 2023

When you’re driving on a hot day, the temperature underneath the hood could easily reach over 4,500 F. A temperature this high can damage many sensitive engine components like the head gasket or numerous other seals and gaskets. Your Nissan has a cooling system centered around the radiator that controls this temperature. As your Nissan dealer, we want you to know some signs that you need to visit us for a radiator repair.

Signs You Need a Radiator Repair from Your Nissan Dealer

Coolant Leak

Coolant is essential for your engine. This liquid is a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze, and its purpose is to control the heat level in the engine. It does this by absorbing heat from hot engine components as it travels over them and transporting this heat to the radiator. Inside the radiator, the heat is removed by heat exchange. Once the heat is removed, the coolant circulates through the engine again.

Coolant is brightly colored pink, orange, blue, green, or yellow. If you spot a puddle in any of these colors underneath your car, your cooling system is leaking. We advise calling our service department right away, so we can identify and repair the leak. If you drive while you have a coolant leak, your engine can seize up and suffer major damage.

Damaged Water Pump

Coolant is pumped through your engine at high speed and under high pressure. The coolant needs to move quickly to remove heat and control the temperature. Your cooling system’s speed will vary based on your car’s speed. As you accelerate, your engine works harder, and this generates more heat. Conversely, when you slow down, your engine temperature will drop, and the cooling system will slow down.

The water pump is responsible for circulating coolant through your engine. If the water pump fails, the coolant won’t circulate, and your engine temperature will rise rapidly. If you see your engine temperature climbing, call us ASAP, so we can find and fix the problem.

Leaking Radiator Cap

The radiator cap regulates the pressure in the cooling system and prevents coolant from escaping the radiator. If the pressure inside the cooling system rises too high, the cap opens to release excess pressure and then closes again. The cap fits tightly into the radiator and is secured by two seals.

Over time, these seals can become damaged by the high heat and pressure in the system. During a service, we routinely check the condition of the cap and its seals and replace them if necessary. If the seals fail, coolant will leak out, and the cooling system will slow down. You can identify a coolant leak by the white marks around the cap that are left behind by evaporated coolant.

A failing cooling system can cause major damage to your engine and its components. Call us today at Coughlin Nissan of Heath.