How to Clean the Front of the Radiator in a Chevy Cobalt

Enthusiasts describe Chevrolet vehicles as "performance cars" and the Chevy Cobalt is no exception. Many late Chevrolet models, such as the Cobalt, contain aluminum radiators. Cleaning the front of the radiator in a Chevy Cobalt is an easy maintenance to perform.

Things You'll Need

• Standard water hose
• Soapy water
• Soft nylon brush

Instructions

1. Cool off the engine before cleaning. Cold water can damage a hot engine, and a hot engine means the radiator contains heated coolant under powerful pressure.

2. Raise your Cobalt hood and put it in a secure, open position. You find the radiator in the 2.2 liter Ecotec, 2.4 liter Ecotec and 2.0 liter SS in the same location near the vehicle front. Loosen the dead insects and other debris by dipping the nylon brush into the soapy water and gently scrubbing the radiator front in the direction of the fins. Rubbing against the direction of the fragile metal fins can bend them.

3. Soak the radiator front with a gentle stream of water. Don't turn the water pressure up too high. Too much pressure on the delicate radiator fins results in bending. Repeat this cleansing process every 12,000 miles or according to scheduled maintenance in your owner's manual.

Tips & Warnings

• DEX-COOL engine coolant fills your Cobalt cooling system. When you add only DEX-COOL extended life coolant, expect the coolant to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. Putting any other coolant into the system can produce premature corrosion in your radiator, heater core or engine.