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What is The Cooling System?
The cooling system flows liquid coolant through the engine block and cylinder head to absorb unnecessary engine heat.
It is a key component in preventing engine overheating by stabilizing the temperature to keep the engine within a designated requirement.
What Does The Cooling System Do?
The coolant in the cooling system absorbs heat and returns to the radiator to be cooled. The flow through a thin tube allows the coolant temperature to decrease due to the air flow around it in the engine vents.
Parts of The Cooling System
Water Pump
Known as heart of cooling system
Ensures proper operation of entire cooling system
Usually mechanical and connected to the engine belts for energy
Rotary motion causes the pump pulley and pump impeller to rotate and pump coolant
Radiator
Works as a heat exchanger for the cooling system
Made of aluminum and consists of tubes and fins
Contains a pressure cap, fan, drain plug, outlet port, and inlet port
Transfers heat from coolant into ambient air in the environment or inside the car
Radiator Overflow Tank
Plastic water tank that has an outlet port that connects to the radiator's inlet port
Needs water added manually prior to driving the car
Thermostat
Valve that shuts and opens for the coolant—dependent on the temperature of the coolant
Isolates radiator from engine until the minimum temperature is reached
Engine will give heat directly to radiator if there is no thermostat
Hoses
Rubber hoses are used to connect the engine, radiator, and water pump
Allows for flow of coolant and complete the circuit of the system
Coolant Temperature Sensor
Observes temperature of engine
Delivers information to control the speed of the cooling fan
Also delivers it to a temperature gauge within the cab of the vehicle
ECM uses that data to control the fuel injection rate
Radiator Cooling Fan
Keeps air flowing even when car is still
Main goal is to reduce the engine's temperature
Freeze Plugs
Plugs used to block flow of coolant
Can also be used to prevent leakage
Manifold Gasket And Head Gasket
Serve different functions within an engine
Manifold gasket seals the intake manifold to prevent air and fuel leaks
Located between intake manifold and cylinder heads
Head gasket seals the combustion chamber and prevents gases from escaping
Located between cylinder heads and engine block
Both are necessary for engine performance and the longevity of the engine itself
Heater Core
Hot coolant delivers the heat to the heater core of the car to warm the interior
Two rubber hoses connect the core to the cooling system
Why is The Cooling System Important?
Engine temperatures can get high enough to melt parts of the engine and damage it
Engine can develop thermal stresses due to large amounts of heat
Moving parts of the engine require lubricant, but high temperatures can mess with the properties of lubricant
High temperatures lowers the engine's efficiency
Cooling fins alone can get loud when being overworked
High temperatures increase the output of exhaust from the engine
Process of The Cooling System
Water pump pushes coolant into engine water vents as the engine starts heating up
Coolant absorbs engine heat and reduces the temperature to the normal operating temperature
Once the coolant temperature reaches between 160-190 Fahrenheit, the heat expands the wax of the tube to act as a valve for coolant
Once open, the coolant passes though the radiator and hoses, with the radiator exchanging heat
The radiator blows air throughout itself, which reduces the coolants temperature rapidly
Once cooled, the coolant goes back to the water pump and the process repeats
*The effectiveness of the cooling system depends on the type of engine
Types of Cooling Systems
Air Cooling System
Blows cold air instead of coolant to the engine
Usually found in motorcycles and cars
Aluminum fins cover the engine block to extract heat
Fan pumps said fins to circulate air
More efficient than water-cooled and have more capacity as well
Typically for lower-power engines
Advantages
Lightweight
Simple design
Prevents corrosion
Increases engine performance
No need for antifreeze
Disadvantages
Extremely loud
Not as efficient as water-cooling
Not good for large or high-power engines
Requires larger fans
Does not provide uniform cooling
Liquid Cooling System
Also known as an indirect cooling system
Uses water to surround the engine and a pump to circulate it
Water extracts the heat, causing it to heat up and moves into the radiator
Commonly used in larger engines
Advantages
Compact designs
Delivers uniform cooling
Can be installed anywhere in the vehicle
Suitable for small and large engines
Disadvantages
Heavier than air-cooled
Consume more power and reduce overall engine efficiency
May corrode some parts of the engine
Require more maintenance than air-cooling
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