Audi and VW Radiators

Car radiators keep engines from running too hot, which helps prevent overheating. How a car radiator actually works, however, is a little more complex. The process inside your Audi or Volkswagen starts with coolant. As your engine burns fuel and runs, it generates heat, and the liquid captures that heat as it flows through a radiator hose and between an inlet and outlet. A radiator cap compresses the coolant as it travels, which helps it accumulate more heat than it could unpressurized. After the coolant absorbs all it can, your radiator's exterior fins release it, and a fan disperses it into the nearby air. The result: your engine keeps working as well as it can, for as long as it can. Sometimes, though, radiators can go bad, and when they do, they usually cause problems.

What Are the Signs of Radiator Problems?

They include fin damage, heating and air conditioning malfunctions, sludgy coolant, strange engine noises, the sweet, syrupy smell of ethylene glycol, and engine overheats and shutdowns. If you suspect radiator failure, your temperature gauge's needle will tell you whether you have the primary symptom -- an engine that's running too hot. Put your VW or Audi through a comprehensive inspection to be sure. If the results indicate that it's radiator change time, avoid the aftermarket; a genuine OEM radiator will fit the car or SUV you love best. Our auto parts store stocks plenty, and you can order one online in just a click or two. So, cross another project off your DIY list. Buy now!