How often should the exterior of a car radiator be cleaned?

[Ulysses]

It is recommended to clean the exterior of a car radiator once a year. The cleaning of the radiator exterior is generally concentrated during the transition between spring and summer. After a year of use, a significant amount of dust, leaves, plastic sheets, and other debris can accumulate on the radiator, especially after the season when willow catkins are prevalent, leading to a heavy buildup of catkins on the radiator. The car radiator, also known as the heat exchanger, is a key component in the vehicle's cooling system. Its function is to dissipate heat: the coolant absorbs heat in the water jacket, flows to the radiator where the heat is dissipated, and then returns to the water jacket to complete the cycle, thereby regulating temperature. The radiator is composed of the radiator core, water pipes, cooling fins, upper tank, and lower tank.