Leaders in the Radiator Business

Silverton Radiators have been Southern Africa’s leading engine cooling experts for 59 years
Silverton Radiators is a franchise consisting of 124 automotive cooling system specialist repair and supply outlets throughout Southern Africa. These outlets service automotive aftermarket customers including body repair facilities, mechanical workshops, fleet operators, mines, the agricultural community and private motorists.

Click on the Province link inthe menu to find your closest SILVERTON RADIATORS shop. Each franchise is owned and operated by a qualified individual while the franchisor is Behr Hella Service, owned by giants Behr and Hella, both well-established and world-renowned German suppliers of Original Equipment (OE) components to vehicle manufacturers globally.

We Render Theses Services:

• Cooling System Checks including tests for system leaks, combustion gas leaks, radiator pressure caps, electrolysis and anti-freeze levels.
  Interpretation of test results.
  Expert cooling system troubleshooting
  Specialist advice on engine cooling systems
  Cleaning and repairing of radiators and fuel tanks
  Flushing of cooling system
  Refurbishing / re-coring of radiators

Electrolysis in engine cooling systems:
a fast and vicious killer!

Replacing a crunched radiator is an everyday occurrence in most body shops. What you may not know is the extent of problems your technicians and mechanical repair staff can cause if they areoblivious to the impact of proper grounding and ultimately electrolysis. Failing to discover and replace one torn ground wire can precipitate a very serious radiator and/or heater degradation problem for unsuspecting customers. You may be familiar with the term "electrolysis" as it relates to the destruction of hair roots with an electric current. In the automotive world, electrolysis can cause hair pulling by service technicians who are unable to diagnose the root problem. Although electrolysis is a somewhat complex electromechanical/chemical reaction involving anodes, cathodes and Faraday’s laws, you don’t need to make a run for the chemistry textbooks or the Internet. In simple terms, electrolysis in aradiator or heater is the localized degradation of the metal caused by excess electrical current flowing through the cooling system’s liquid coolant or metal transmission lines in search of anelectrical ground.

But what happens when there is no ground to be found, or an ungrounded electrical device in the vehicle creates excess electrical current? Electrical current can beintroduced into the cooling system in many ways, but some common causes are loss of ground due to mechanical damage or corrosion, or a frayed electrical wire coming in contact with theradiator. Any vehicle with accessories (such as driving lights) using the radiator as a ground is begging for an electrolysis problem. For body shop personnel, failing to see or detect a ripped ground wire or forgetting to replace one or more ground wires can cause electrolysis that won’t show up until weeks after your customer has left your shop with a repaired vehicle. This is especially true for aluminium radiators which are very sensitive to this problem. The evolution of grounding in the automotive industry is tied to the revolution in electronics. In the not-too-distant past, grounding was a simple concept that applied to the ignition system, the starting system and the auxiliary system. Before the days of front-wheel drive and transverse-mounted engines,cooling system electrolysis was a rare occurrence. But today, with most cars featuring electric cooling fans in conjunction with ungrounded plastic-tank radiators, cooling system electrolysis is becoming a more frequent problem.

Electronics may top 50 percent

Spurred on by efforts to achieve differentiation through comfort and convenience features, vehiclemanufacturers are replacing electro-mechanical linkages with pulses on wires at a frenzied pace. According to industry suppliers, the electronic content of vehicles during will top 50 percent ofvehicle content costs within two years. Almost every vehicle model manufactured today is equipped with an electronic fuel injection system. The long and rapidly growing list includesphones, DVD modules, satellite audio systems, entertainment centers, powered doors and lift gates, GPS navigational systems and Internet connectivity. Beyond the basics for seatbelts, door and ignition keys, a plethora of new sensors for everything from ABS brake systems to tyre pressures and seat positions, steering wheel angle and brake pedal position is becoming commonplace. Soon water pumps will be electrically driven. Hybrid electric cars are already here.

A specialist cooling system service provider is able to provide the required diagnostic service to identify problems. Understanding the concepts and interpreting the readings are critical to successful diagnoses. Your local Silverton Radiators outlet is equipped and trained to assist you with electrolysis diagnosis and a host of cooling system checks and tests. Most of these services are rendered free of charge when components are purchased from them. You can save embarrassment as well as costs on claims by partnering with a Silverton radiators outlet and allow them to assist you in providing professional efficient service to your customers.