Coolant circulates around your Cadillac’s engine up to 20 times a minute. As it flows through the system, it picks up excess heat from the engine and disperses it through metal fins in your radiator. Without a fully functioning radiator dispersing the heat and cooling the coolant, the powerful engine of your Cadillac will rapidly overheat. So if you detect any of these six signs of a failing radiator, visit your nearest Cadillac dealer for prompt radiator repair.
Radiator Fluid Light on Your Dashboard
The moment your radiator or coolant stops doing its job properly, your Cadillac’s computerized monitors will pick it up and warn you. The radiator fluid light will come to life on your dashboard.
This light looks like a little thermometer. It’s unwise to ignore this early warning sign of overheating.
Temperature Gauge Rising
With coolant no longer keeping things cool, you’ll see the temperature gauge on your instrument panel rising. A good temperature for an operating Cadillac engine is between 195 and 220 degrees.
Anything over 220 degrees will start to cause problems. If it reaches 245 degrees, your engine will begin to break down.
White Steam or Smoke
Radiator fluid begins to boil in the range of 223 to 235 degrees. As it expands, the boiling fluid will force its way out of the radiator. You’ll see it escaping from under your hood in the form of white steam or smoke.
Ticking, Clicking Sounds
With a faulty radiator, if you don’t pull over in time, your engine will start to overheat to the point where metal will expand and motor oil will stop lubricating properly.
Under these conditions, the struggling mechanical parts start making odd ticking and clicking noises. Those sounds are an ominous sign that things are about to start breaking down.
Puddles of Leaking Coolant
Excessive corrosion in a radiator’s surface, hose caps, hose connections, or hoses themselves will eventually cause a leak. When coolant leaks, you might notice this brightly colored liquid puddling under your car when parked. Coolant is usually blue, green, yellow, pink, or red in color. It also smells sweet.
Leaking coolant will destroy your radiator’s ability to reduce heat. It’s not a good idea to drive with a coolant leak because overheating will happen very quickly.
Your Radiator’s Ten Years Old
You can expect your radiator to last up to eight or ten years at most. So if you haven’t changed your radiator for ten years, it might be on its last legs. You should consider having it replaced soon.
The more powerful your Cadillac’s engine, the greater heat it produces. This puts your radiator under more pressure and often shortens its lifespan.
How Often Should a Cadillac Dealer Inspect Your Radiator?
It’s generally recommended to have your radiator and cooling system inspected every six months. You can coincide this with your periodical oil changes. Coolant needs to be flushed every five years or so. Regular inspections and servicing will help keep your radiator lasting far longer.
Visit Randall Motors today to have your radiator examined, repaired, or replaced. We’re a family-owned dealership that’s been serving the region’s drivers since 1957.
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