How hard is it to check and see if a radiator is plugged?

Question

And how do I do it?

Answer 1

Disconnect the lower hose, remove the cap from the top. Run full pressure hose water into lower hose port so it spews from the top. This will reverse flush the radiator and clear any blockage. Do it on a COLD radiator.

Answer 2

The only way is to do a flow test. It's not real scientific or anything. You can leave the radiator in the car. Take the bottom hose off after draining it. Find something to temporarily plug it, such as a rubber ball against the pipe.

Fill it up to the top and pull the ball away. If the water flows out pretty fast, it's good. It should pretty much drain in a few seconds, I'd say less than 5.

Answer 3

Start it. Go down the road a little way, watching the temperature Gage. If it goes up above 210, your radiator is plugged. If it sits between 190 and 200, it isn't.

Answer 4

let your car come up to full operating temperature, shut it off and run your hand from the top of the radiator to the bottom, if the bottom is colder than the top then bingo, its plugged. as long its a sideflow radiator ( flows from one side to the other ) if its an old vehicle with a downflow take off the radiator cap and look........ its that simple

Answer 5

start your car and let it run until it gets pretty warm, feel the lower hose if you can get to it without getting hurt, it should be hot, now feel the upper hose, if the radiator is plugged it probably will be cold depending on how bad it is plugged... or you can take it out and bring it to a radiator shop and have them clean it out, it cost me about 30 bucks or so depending on your vehicle...

Answer 6

after you ran the car for a while,shut it off and feel the radiator,it should be warm all over it.if you feel cold then thats where it is plugged.