Mazda Radiator Repair: 4 Pitfalls of Ignoring a Damaged Radiator

As vehicles continue to evolve, the need for car owners to inspect the inner workings of their engine compartments has steadily diminished. Most owners would reluctantly admit they couldn’t identify their radiator, much less name the critical functions a radiator serves. But, a damaged radiator is no laughing matter and could leave you stranded on the side of the road. Read on to discover four pitfalls of not getting your radiator repaired.

1. Engine Overheating

Your engine can withstand a certain degree of high temperatures. But, when the radiator is damaged, your engine can quickly overheat, even with minimal use and gentle driving. An overheating engine can boil the remaining coolant in the radiator system, causing hoses to loosen from their fittings, swell, and eventually burst, spraying boiling coolant on critical engine components.
Also, the unchecked temperature from an overheating motor can warp aluminum engine cylinder heads leading to decreased power, misfiring, and excessive oil consumption. Most importantly, excessive heat can lead to a blown head gasket, allowing oil and coolant to mix and circulate throughout your entire motor, ultimately destroying your engine, transmission, and other associated critical components.

2. Transmission Damage

Coolant is not only critical to your engine’s life but can also be tied to the health of your transmission. When a radiator is damaged, you may begin to notice your transmission having difficulty shifting or hard shifting. If your vehicle has an integrated transmission cooler, the rough shifting occurs from transmission fluid becoming contaminated with coolant.

3. Cabin Heater Not Working

On a cold Monday morning commute, the last thing anyone wants to experience is no heat to battle the frigid air. Lack of cabin heat is a common sign of a damaged or malfunctioning radiator.
Your cabin heater is reliant on a hot coolant passing through the heater core, producing hot air that is blown onto you and your passengers. Don’t ignore this symptom or else you might get left out in the cold at the worst possible time. With a certified technician, a simple repair could easily address a coolant leak or clog, getting your heat back up and running in no time!

4. Damaging the Environment

All of that leaking coolant has to go somewhere. Often leaking coolant ends up in a puddle underneath your vehicle and can easily seep into the ground and ultimately, the local water supply.
Ingesting coolant can cause serious damage to the nervous systems of humans and animals. Plus, as coolant mixes in with rainwater, plant life can quickly be harmed from even moderate exposure. Don’t let someone or something, who doesn’t know coolant is poisonous, come across waste from your damaged radiator.
Ignoring a damaged or faulty radiator can lead to costly repairs and damage to the environment. Don’t let saving a couple of dollars turn into ruining your next family road trip; have your radiator fixed today! Visit Flood Mazda to have a certified technician inspect your car today!

Tags: Radiator Repair, Vehicle Maintenance
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