On most modern cars the radiator has four side mountings and a top and bottom hose. The electric fan may be bolted to a fan cowl and enclosed, particularly on some transverse-engined cars where the radiator is mounted at the side of the engine bay.
The damage is impossible for a home mechanic to repair, and usually the radiator must be replaced.
Aluminium does not dissipate heat as well as copper, so there have to be more fins on the core, which is therefore easily clogged by dirt thrown up from the road. Hose it clean at least once a year (See How to flush an engine radiator).
There is one advantage, however: lightweight radiators generally have simple fixings and are easy to remove.
Disconnecting hoses and fittings on the radiator
Before you remove a radiator, check the hoses and clips. Buy replacements if the hoses are cracked or deteriorated, or if the clips are corroded. Always replace wire-type clips with screw clips.
If necessary, make notes or drawings of how all the radiator connections fit.
Apart from the top and bottom hoses, there may be pipes to an expansion tank, and electrical leads to a temperature gauge or automatic electric-fan switch, which must be disconnected.
An electric fan may be bolted to the radiator. Depending on the design, you either remove it to free the radiator, or remove it together with the radiator. Check with the car service manual.
With both electrical and mechanical fans, you may have to take off a fan cowl in order to free the radiator.
Some cars have a splash shield under the radiator, which must be removed. Cars with automatic transmission may have a gearbox oil cooler set in the bottom of the normal radiator, with screw-on unions for the oil pipes.
Disconnect the battery before starting to remove any radiator which has electrical connections. Then remove the pressure cap and drain the radiator.
Loosen hose clips and ease off the hoses by twisting them gently to and fro.
Do not try to lever off a hose with a screwdriver: you may damage both the hose and the radiator stub – particularly if the stub is plastic.
If a hose is stuck fast, slit it at the stub end with a sharp knife and renew the hose. Unfasten any electrical connections and check that they are clean and sound.
Before you unscrew any oil-pipe unions (used on automatic-transmission radiators) have a container ready to catch the oil. Do not use the oil again – top up the transmission with fresh oil afterwards (See How to check and change automatic transmission fluid).
Seal disconnected oil unions, both on the radiator and on the pipes, with polythene bags and rubber bands to keep out dirt.
When you refit the oil unions take great care not to get the nuts cross-threaded, and tighten them well to prevent leaks.
Unscrew the radiator mounting bolts and ease the radiator out, removing such parts as may be necessary to clear the way.
Remember the order in which you removed them, so that you can reverse the sequence when refitting Take care not to crush the soft metal radiator fins or otherwise damage them or the fan blades.
When refitting hoses, tighten the clips firmly but not too much overtightening could cause the clips to cut the hoses or crush the plastic stubs to which they are sometimes fitted.
Sliding out a radiator
Sliding guides on a Vauxhall radiator mounting.
Some cars have unusual radiator mountings: look carefully all over the radiator and find where the mounting points are – they are not always obvious.
Draining the radiator
There may be a drain tap or plug at the bottom of the radiator.
With the engine cold, take off or release the pressure cap on the radiator – or on a separate tank if one is fitted.
Some cars have a tap or drain plug in the bottom of the radiator – open it and the radiator should empty.
If no water flows, poke a drain-plug hole gently with wire, or unscrew and remove a tap. If there is no tap or plug, or if you are unable to clear a blockage with wire, disconnect the bottom hose at the radiator end.
Disconnect the bottom hose if there is no drain plug or tap.
Save coolant with antifreeze in it fore re-use. Drain it into a clean container, then strain it through muslin to remove rust or dirt before you put it back.
Afterwards, ask a garage to check the strength of the solution. Or you can check it yourself if you have an antifreeze hydrometer.
There may be a drain tap or plug at the bottom of the radiator.
Disconnect the bottom hose if there is no drain plug or tap.
