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Signs My Audi’s Radiator Is Bad

The average lifespan of a radiator is eight to 10 years. If you take care of your Audi’s radiator, you may get more life out of it. If you fail to take care of the radiator, it will not last as long. We are a full-service European auto repair shop, and we can replace the radiator in your Audi if it has gone bad. Let’s talk below about the signs that the Audi needs a new radiator.

Leaking Coolant

The radiator stores the engine coolant when the engine is not running. It also stores it after it has circulated through the engine to cool it off. In other words, you always have coolant in the radiator. Consequently, because the radiator is made of metal, the coolant can start to corrode the bottom of it. It will eat holes in the bottom of the radiator and you will end up with coolant on the garage floor.

Orange Coolant

The color of the coolant may confirm that the radiator has rusted. If the coolant is orange or has orange flakes in it, this is rust. A rusty radiator needs to be replaced right away in order to prevent additional damage to the cooling system. You do not want coolant filled with rust circulating through the cooling system. The rust particles can build up inside the radiator hoses and clog them.

Overheating

Another sign that your Audi needs a new radiator is overheating. Naturally, if the radiator is leaking coolant, the engine will get too hot when you drive the Audi. You may notice that the Audi gets hot very quickly. This cannot only be a sign of a problem with the radiator but also the thermostat.

Clogged Inlets

As we mentioned above, the radiator cools off the hot engine coolant so it is cold when it circulates through the engine again. This process is done using outside air that is drawn through air inlets or fins. The radiator also uses a fan. The inlets can get clogged by dirt and debris because the radiator is located directly behind the grille. We can clean the inlets if this is the only problem with the radiator.

Damaged Inlets

This being said, the inlets can also get damaged by small rocks. When this happens, they may get dented. Unfortunately, this may mean that you don’t have enough air flowing over the coolant to reduce its temperature before it circulates through the engine again.

If you are having any of the problems listed above, call us to schedule an appointment for your Audi.

Photo by PW.STUDIO from PW.STUDIO via Canva Pro
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