Does a flattened aluminum fin on a car radiator have any impact?
2 Answers
Flattened aluminum fins on a car radiator do have an impact, including the following effects: 1. Reduced heat dissipation capability of the radiator, which can lead to poor engine cooling or even damage; 2. Increased pressure in the air conditioning system, particularly in the high-pressure section, potentially causing air conditioning pipe bursts; 3. Increased load on the compressor, higher internal pressure, and difficulty in piston cylinder compression, which in severe cases can lead to excessive cylinder load and air conditioning belt slippage; 4. Extreme poor heat dissipation, rapid pressure increase, piston cylinder reaching stress limits, pipe pressure reaching limits, and high-frequency engagement of the compressor electromagnetic coil via the pressure switch, which can burn out the coil within minutes, leading to compressor failure.
Having driven for so many years, I can confirm that flattened radiator fins do have an impact. The fins act like breathing holes for the radiator – when they're crushed, the ventilation area shrinks, directly reducing cooling efficiency. This is especially noticeable during summer when using air conditioning or driving at high speeds, as the radiator temperature can spike rapidly. Last year, my car's temperature gauge nearly hit the red zone due to a fin flattened by a stone, forcing me to pull over to cool down. My advice: address flattened fins immediately. For minor deformations, carefully straighten them with tweezers, being cautious not to break the fins. Severe damage calls for radiator replacement. Daily precautions: avoid parking near bushes, and when washing your car, don't aim high-pressure water jets directly at the radiator fins.
