Radiator Repair

90% of Automobile Manufacturers today are using aluminum core/plastic tank radiators. All heavy industrial radiators, however, are still made of brass.

To repair a copper/brass radiator:
The radiator is removed from the vehicle. If it is very dirty, it will be steamed off. Next is the visual check - if the appearance is not good, they will submerge it to see if it is leaking or look inside to see if it's clogged. If it's clogged, the tank will be taken off and each tube will be cleaned out.

The radiator is then placed in the ultrasonic cleaners which contain an alkaline, caustic soda, or water solution. Afterward the radiator is steamed to remove all dirt and paint. If the radiator is repairable, the area to be soldered is brushed with a zinc-ammonium chloride flux. The solder is applied. After cooling, the radiator is tested for leaks and if it passes, it is dried and painted.

The future looks good for the Radiator Repair Industry provided the shops keep up with the needed equipment to handle all phases of repair from the aluminum/plastic to brass. Some decrease in solder consumption is expected over the next 2 - 5 years due to the increased use of aluminum/plastic radiators in new automobiles.