Honda Civic Radiators

• Honda has long been an established brand because of its motorcycles. Its cars, however, did not gain that much sales and attention until Honda Civic was introduced in 1973. 
• A radiator is your engine’s heat exchanger. It is designed to transfer heat from the coolant to the outside air. 
• Types of Radiator: Copper/Brass, Aluminum, and Plastic with Aluminum
• A radiator usually costs around $50 to $100. 
• If you do not replace a faulty radiator, your car will often overheat. This may cause unnecessary stress on your engine leading to long term damage on rings, pistons and rod bearings.

For over 40 years, Honda Civic has been known for its affordability and reliability. Honda has long been known for its motorcycles. Its cars, however, did not gain that much sales and attention until Honda Civic was introduced in 1973. What made this line different was that it had the finish of a German automobile but at a much lower cost. These factors, along with Civic’s fuel efficiency, helped put the Japanese motor industry in the limelight.

To maintain your Honda Civic’s performance and fuel efficiency, it is important to keep your engine at its best. One important component in keeping your car’s engine cool is its radiator.

A radiator is your engine’s heat exchanger. It is designed to transfer heat from the coolant to the outside air. To understand more about the radiator, let us discuss the engine’s cooling process.

The engine’s cooling system works with a substance called a coolant. This fluid is responsible for cooling down your heated car engine. The coolant circulates through the entire engine with the help of a water pump.

Once the coolant reaches its maximum temperature, it will make its way back to the radiator. The radiator then cools down this fluid with the help of a cooling fan. The coolant will make its way back to the water pump and the process will repeat itself.

This whole process would not be possible without the help of a radiator.  A radiator can come in different forms and shapes but it is basically made of either aluminum, copper, or plastic.

A radiator is made up of four components:

Core 

The core is the most important part of the radiator. It is composed of a large block, with metal fins that allow the heat to flow to the outside air through the grille. Radiators are often classified based on the number of cores it has. For example; one-core, two-core, or three-core radiators. 

Pressure Cap

This cap is responsible for creating constant pressure in the engine’s cooling system. This alters the coolant’s boiling point, allowing the system to be more efficient. It uses a spring to create pressure up to 20 PSI.

Inlet and Outlet Tanks

Inlet and outlet tanks are responsible for moving the coolant from the engine to the radiator. A crossflow radiator tank is positioned on the side of the core while a downflow radiator tank is located at the top or bottom of the core. 

Most Honda Civic models come with an aluminum radiator. Although copper and brass tanks were widely used in the 1980s, they were heavy and expensive. Because of its high cost, it was soon replaced by aluminum and plastic materials.

Plastic and Aluminum

This type of radiator is often referred to as a “plastic radiator”. However, this often creates confusion because only the tanks are made of plastic. A typical Honda Civic radiator consists of plastic tanks with an aluminum core. 

The most common problem with Civic radiators are leaks due to cracks on the top tank near the pressure cap. This is because the center core is simply attached to the plastic tank with only a gasket between the two. 

Plastic and aluminum radiators are easy to mass produce because of its low cost. Because it’s tanks are made of plastic, it does not usually rust.

Aluminum

This type of radiator is made of an aluminum core and aluminum tanks. It is often used for high-performing cars. One advantage of having an aluminum radiator is that it is easy to weld. Whenever there are cracks or leaks, a mechanic can just repair the cracks instead of replacing your radiator with a new one.

There have been already ten generations of Honda Civic ever since its debut in 1973. To ensure that you are getting the most accurate fit for your Civic, input the correct year, make, and model in our website’s search engine.

A radiator usually cost around $50 to $100. Radiators are usually sold individually, and Civic radiators usually have a 1-row core.

One of the most obvious signs that your radiator needs replacement is a coolant leak. This is easy to detect because the fluid will be visible on the floor either on the front or center of your vehicle. Your low coolant light might also constantly turn on, even when you are filling up your tank regularly.

If you do not replace a faulty radiator, your car will often overheat. This may cause unnecessary stress on your engine leading to long-term damage on rings, pistons, and rod bearings. If you notice that your car frequently overheats, it may be time to have your vehicle checked by a trusted mechanic.