A car radiator is a heat exchanger with means to circulate coolant to absorb and release heat from the vehicle's engine.
a radiator is an electrical component that looks like this: ()()(), or ()(), it has connections on one side for entering coolant and exiting hot water and on the other side its connections are at the top for circulating cold water in and hot water out. the purpose of a radiator is not only to dissipate heat but also to condense the fluid so as to increase its density, allowing it more successful interaction with air, which has low density. in closed-loop systems, this also minimizes problems caused by undesirable mineral buildup due to hard tapwater, such as lime scale
can a car run without a radiator?
no. if the car is moving, it needs the coolant to circulate throughout the engine; then into the radiator that sits before it; then to air conditioner, which then pumps warm air outside through an exhaust vent. the cycle continues either until you turn off your engine or until all of your coolant is gone, hence why most cars will turn off automatically once they're overheated.
what is the purpose of a radiator in a car?
in a word? heat.
when you're driving long distances or in cold weather, your engine needs to work harder which uses more fuel. adding a radiator to your car helps remove some of the heat from the engine oils and other fluids that circulate around it by circulating water instead. the water is cooled as it circulates, then heated back up by passing through hot pipes surrounding the inner walls of the radiator. this gives you just about free unlimited iced tea with every gas station stop!
how much does it cost to replace a radiator?
the cost of replacing a radiator without an ac/furnace is $120-$300 with installation. this may not cover repairs for sheet-rock or insulation that might need to be done around the existing radiator.
solar caps are a relatively new technology and can be as expensive as a traditional system but provides a different type of heat which is highly sought after if one lives in areas with cold winters or with air conditioning during summer months. solar caps can cost from $3500-$7000 depending on location, size, etc. the upfront costs associated with solar caps make them more costly than repairing your old radiator set up unless you have plans for adding solar panels to your home in the future as well as increasing the efficiency
what are the signs of a bad radiator?
a radiator that is bad typically shows outward signs of corrosion, rust, or dirt. it may also be leaking on its joints or seams, losing coolant water pump pressure. the addition of noise when the engine operates could also signal a leak in the system. however, without checking out the heat level after you turn it off and jiggle it to see if there are any more secret leaks, it's difficult to say for sure without checking with a professional service technician what the results would be.
