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5 things to know about your car radiator and how to keep it cool
Car radiators are the most common cause of car breakdowns in the UAE, and yet they are fantastically simple to maintain. When an engine is running, its pistons are moving up and down the cylinders at anywhere between 1500rpm at idle to 8000rpm at full throttle - this creates heat and friction. The only way to keep them cool is to have water flowing through canals in the engine block –meet the radiator.
The radiator keeps your car’s engine cool, this makes it extremely important that it is properly looked after. Signs that things may not well under the bonnet will begin with the water temperature gauge. It should be running at no more than 90 degrees Celsius. If it starts to rise, then you should pull over and stop. Another sign could be burning smells and steam or smoke coming from under the bonnet.

1. Low coolant level

Coolant, a mixture of antifreeze (ethylene glycol) and water is a fluid pumped around the engine and kept cool with the help of the radiator. The purpose of this antifreeze is to keep the water in the radiator from freezing in cold temperatures and, more relevant to the UAE, preventing the fluid from boiling in the warmer climates. A low coolant level in the radiator is one of the major reasons for overheating in vehicles. The drop in amount of coolant could be due to a variety of reasons like a leak in your head gasket – which is a serious problem - or the heater-core. It is advised to renew the coolant every time the radiator is serviced. Ideally this is to be done annually. You should check your coolant level at least once a month – topping it up with water is acceptable.

2. Clogged radiator

Common causes for a clogged radiator are dirt, dead insects and loose debris such as stones. These will block the airflow through the radiator resulting in it overheating. Open the bonnet and you can usually view the radiator clearly.
If there is nothing visible, it could be an internal clog. Scan the surface of the radiator for cold spots using an infrared thermostat if you have one. If you don’t have one, open the radiator cap when the car is cool and check the fluid and the radiator for any brown discoloration, or suspended contaminates in the coolant like floating dirt.

3. Heat exchange materials

Traditionally radiators were made using copper and brass cores, but cost-efficient and weight-saving aluminum cores using plastic tanks are slowly replacing them. The reason for this change is that aluminum radiators cool more effectively than the copper-brass ones. The rate of heat transfer in aluminum is impressive compared to similar common metals.
If you have an older car with copper and brass core plumbing, then the car’s age could be the issue. Newer cars won’t be as affected.

4. Radiator cap

A malfunctioning radiator cap causes radiator overheating, a very common and overlooked cause. If the radiator cap has not been screwed on correctly then coolant could be leaking.
The cap also helps maintain the correct water pressure, and if it’s not sitting correctly, the pressure will become compromised.

5. Thermostat

The thermostat is a valve as well as a key component of the radiator. If the thermostat is stuck closed, the hot water in the system can’t escape back to the radiator to be cooled. This results in overheating.
Thermostats are relatively simple to replace and are the most common causes of overheating.
Source: https://gulfnews.com/guides/life/5-things-to-know-about-your-car-radiator-and-how-to-keep-it-cool-1.1554272

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The 3 Most Common Places A Transmission Leaks Fluid
Nobody wants to see red transmission fluid leaking from underneath their vehicle. Not only is it annoying to see your garage floor stained; leaking transmission fluid can end up costing a lot of money if it is not taken care of promptly. Most people understand the fact that leaking fluid is the first sign of a problem and typically equate the issue to something that is going to cost them a ton of money. Although an expensive transmission repair bill can follow leaking fluid, this is typically not the case. As long as the problem is taken care of right away, generally leaking transmission fluid is a relatively inexpensive fix. Continue reading to learn the typical causes of fluid leaks, the average repair bill, and how to prevent damaging your vehicles transmission.
The 3 Most Common Leaks
Although there are multiple places on a vehicle where transmission fluids can leak, the 3 most common include:
• Pan gasket
• Cooler lines
• Output, tail, or torque converter seal
A few other sources of leaks that are not as common include: a rusted trans pan, damaged torque converter, external sensor housing, tail housing gasket, side cover gasket, filler tube, cracked case, etc. These are not typically as common, unless you are driving an older Ford Ta**us with the AX4N or AX4S transmission, notorious for grooved torque converters which can cause excessive fluid leaks.
How to Properly Diagnose the Leak
If you are able to locate the transmission from the underside of your vehicle, the leaking fluid can be spotted easy. However, the root cause of the fluid leak is often more difficult to discover and where you may be seeing the fluid leak could be deceptive.
Remember: Fluid is going to leak down the transmission due to gravity and the wind blowing underneath your vehicle is going to blow the fluid away from the transmission.
To properly locate the source of your transmission’s leak, you must fully clean off all fluid from the entire underbody of your vehicle and add dye to your transmissions system. After ensuring that your vehicle has been filled to the proper level with fluid, you will want to put some miles on your car (varies depending on extent of leak) to pinpoint the source. Typically, 30-40 miles should be sufficing, but with very slow leaks don’t be surprised if you still can’t see fluid after 100+ miles.
Remember: If you are leaking excessive amounts of fluid you may damage your cars transmission due to running it low on fluid. If you are unsure of how to do this, contact your local transmission specialist to have this work performed to ensure proper diagnosis. This will prevent excessive damage and money spent on repairs caused by running your vehicle low on fluid.
Source: https://certifiedtransmissionrepair.com/3-common-places-transmission-leaks-fluid/