One of the leaders of the subcompact sedan market throughout its life is the Mitsubishi Mirage. Introduced in 1978, at the tail end of the gasoline crisis, the Mirage has served as the basis for a sedan, coupe, hatchback, and station wagon. Key to the venerable Mirage’s market success has been its fuel economy.

Early in its life, it was brought to the United States as the Dodge Colt and the Plymouth Champ. In 1979, it received the EPA’s highest fuel economy rating.

For an engine to burn fuel at peak efficiency, it must run within a very specific operating temperature range. The engine’s cooling system is responsible for shedding the tremendous amount of heat generated during the combustion cycle and preventing overheating. The heart of the cooling system is the Mitsubishi Mirage’s radiator. Built of a combination of hardened plastic, aluminum tubes, and densely-packed radiating fins, the Mitsubishi Mirage radiator follows a tried and true formula of radiator design to maintain a proper coolant temperature of approximately 200 degrees. The coolant flows through the tubes and simple conduction draws heat into the aluminum skin of the tubes, and from there into the thousands of radiating fins. Airflow, either from the forward motion of the car or from the auxiliary cooling fan, then dissipates the heat into the atmosphere. If the radiator function is interfered with, either through damage or a plug somewhere in the cooling system, serious, if not terminal, engine damage can be the result. Regularly inspect the radiator along with the rest of the coolant system for leaks or cracks, and change your coolant within the manufacturer specified interval.If you notice any damage to the Mitsubishi Mirage’s radiator, order a replacement from our easy web interface, and keep your engine cool and healthy.