The radiator in your car disperses the heat from your engines coolant. When it stops working properly, it is only a matter of time before your engine overheats and fails. The joints where the cores meet the end tanks tend to get weak and are the first place to spring a leak. Impacts to the fins themselves can cause holes. Corrosion and clogging from the inside can make cooling less than effective and compromise coolant flow.

When doing radiator and cooling service, you will obviously lose coolant. Browse through the cooling section of your model to see factory correct coolants, seals, and caps. Before beginning, check your hoses to make sure everything is in good shape.