How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Radiator on a Car?
Find out how much radiator replacement costs for your car in the UK, including parts, labor, and hidden expenses. Learn what affects pricing and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Coolant Leak Repair: Signs, Causes, and How to Fix It Fast
When your car starts overheating, it’s rarely a coincidence. More often, it’s a sign of a failing coolant system, the network of hoses, radiator, water pump, and reservoir that keeps your engine from cooking itself. Also known as the cooling system, it’s one of the most critical but often ignored parts of your car. A small drip under your car, a sweet smell in the cabin, or a warning light on your dash? That’s not normal. It’s your engine screaming for help.
Most coolant leaks start in the radiator, the metal box at the front of your car that cools the fluid as it circulates. Over time, corrosion, road debris, or old hoses crack and leak. But it’s not always the radiator. The water pump, the component that pushes coolant through the engine, can also fail, especially in older cars. Even a loose or cracked hose, the rubber tubes connecting parts of the cooling system, can dump coolant faster than you think. And don’t forget the heater core, a tiny radiator inside your dashboard that can leak coolant into the cabin, leaving a sticky, sweet residue on your windows.
What happens if you ignore it? Your engine temperature climbs. Then it overheats. Then it seizes. That’s not an exaggeration — it’s what happens when metal parts expand from heat and grind against each other. Replacing a head gasket or a warped cylinder head costs thousands. Fixing a leaky hose? Under £100. The difference isn’t just money — it’s whether your car runs tomorrow.
Many drivers think adding more coolant is a fix. It’s not. It’s a band-aid. You’re just delaying the inevitable. A true repair means finding where the fluid is escaping — and sealing it properly. That’s why we check pressure, inspect every connection, and test for internal leaks before we quote you. No guesswork. No upsells. Just the truth.
Below, you’ll find real stories from drivers who spotted the signs early — and those who didn’t. You’ll learn how to check your coolant level without a mechanic, what error codes might point to a coolant problem, and why some "quick fixes" make things worse. Whether it’s a cracked reservoir, a bad thermostat housing, or a failing radiator cap, we’ve seen it all. And we’ll show you exactly what to look for — before your engine turns into a paperweight.
