Every automobile comes with engine cooling system and it is core component to boost engine efficiency. Engine cooling system is a combination of core components that maintain car internal combustion or piston engine temperature to an optimal level for better performance. It’s an engine life-savvy system that protects engine from overheating, choking, blasting, and wear and tear. It is installed in every car or vehicle that run engine. Even electric vehicles (EVs) also fitted with a unique EV cooling system to protect electric motors and batteries from overheating.
Car engine cooling system comprises radiator, radiator cap, pipes, channels around the engine block and cylinder head, water or liquid coolant, drive motor or water pump, radiator fan, thermostat, a water reservoir, and temperature sensor. A series of channels (Pipes) cast into the engine block and cylinders head where water or antifreeze coolant revolves and absorb the engine heat which dissipates from the radiator later. Since you are still reading this shows your learning potential. The following read will explain about the car cooling system functions and their importance. So, sit in a relaxing mood to enjoy the read.
Importance of Engine Cooling System
The cooling system for engine acts as a breathing system for the car engine. It’s vital for engine efficiency and life. It is crucial for engine optimal performance and durability. The engine cooling system protects your car engine from overheating, blasting, wear and tear, and engine seizing. Overheating weakens your car engine and damages the combustion chamber, pistons, and crankshaft.
You can monitor engine temperature from a gauge on the Car instrument panel or dashboard. The gauge comes with a needle that moves between two points COOL and HOT. Some cars indicate COOL and HOT with English letters C and H so don’t panic if you can’t see HOT and COOL words on your car indication panel. Modern cars come with simple indication lights that if BLUE denotes engine cool condition and OFF refers to optimal temperature conditions while the RED one indicates HOT engine.
If your gauge is in the H zone which is a possible indication of engine overheating, then immediately stop and switch off your car engine. Wait until the engine cools down and check the cooling system components for malfunctions. Avoid driving through your journey until you find the cause of engine overheating.
How Do Car Cooling System Work
Understanding the working principle of engine cooling system is simple yet complicated if overlooked. Optimal temperature of the car engine is 95 to 105 degrees Celsius where it functions properly. As temperature rises beyond the optimal level, engine cooling system takes over as a security guard.
It is composition of a radiator, water pump, radiator fan, thermostat, channels around engine body, and coolant reservoir interconnected with rubber hoses or metallic pipes in some vehicles.
- Water or specific car liquid coolant is filled inside the reservoir and radiator up to the certain levels.
- Ideally ¾ of the radiator and coolant reservoir is filled with the suitable coolant liquid.
- As soon engine starts, a drive belt inter-connected with the engine and the water pump and initiate the rotational flow of water or car coolant around the engine body through orifices.
- Water or car liquid coolant enters into the channels all around the engine body and revolves around the engine and other component such as throttle body.
- Coolant absorbs the engine heat and return to the radiator.
- A radiator is a structure of multiple tubes and fins in between these tube and inlet and outlet tanks.
- The hot coolant enters the upper tank of the radiator and flow towards lower tank via tubes.
- Heat is transferred to those tubes and absorbed by the fins thus lowering the coolant temperature.
- Radiator fan expedite the cooling function of the water or coolant via pulling cool air through fins and dissipating heat in to the environment.
- As soon as water enters the lower tank of the radiator, it is pulled toward the engine again and this cycle keeps running until you switch-off the engine.
Water pump or water body keeps pumping coolant in to the engine channels that keep absorbing the heat that later dissipated via radiator.
Probable Causes of Overheating Engine
While driving if you noticed abnormality on the Heat indication gauge them stop the car and keeps engine running. Open the bonnet of your car and pore cold water on the radiator and let the engine cool down a little bit. Check the gauge position, if you notice a downward trend then you can turn-off the engine. This will protect your car engine from choking or seizing.
Open the reservoir cap and check the coolant level it should be in between Max and low level. If the level of coolant is lower than the specified limit then there might be a leakage. And, if the coolant level is higher than your car is overheated and sending the coolant to reservoir which further overflows from the drain pipe. There could be multiple reasons, you can find some of them below.
- Your radiator fan might be faulty
- The radiator is blocked due to rust or debris
- Water Pump is not functioning properly
- There could be leakage in the pipes
- The engine head gasket is roosted and mixing air or oil in the coolant
- Check engine oil level and oil filter
Those could be the possible causes of engine overheating that you can check and diagnose yourself in remote areas. You should immediately look for a car mechanic nearby to seek expert opinion and fault isolation.
FAQs About Engine Cooling System
How to bleed the engine cooling system?
Bleeding is typically referred to as removing air from the engine cooling system. The air particles become hot air spots in the engine cooling system that pressurizes the coolant in the system. Over-pressurized coolant over-flows through the reservoir drain ultimately reducing the coolant level in the overall system. So, a bleeding engine cooling system is a mandatory step while filling the coolant. First, ensure that there is no leakage in the whole system and that your engine head gas kit is fit. Fill up the coolant in the Radiator up to the neck level and start the car engine. The coolant level will get lower as you start the engine. Fill the coolant in the radiator and examine the air bubbles on the radiator filling point. Ensure that no air bubbles are left at the radiator neck and close the radiator cap. This way you can bleed the engine cooling system.
How to clean rust out of the engine cooling system?
Rust usually occurs inside the radiator tubes and metallic pipes of the engine cooling system. You should perform routine cleaning of the radiator. Look for an expert technician for radiator rust cleaning and leakage testing with an engine cooling system pressure tester. The radiator is a sophisticated and key component of the car cooling system. You should clean the radiator after every 30K kilometer or 3 years whichever comes first. If you are using ordinary water instead of coolant then replace it every 1000 kilometers or 3 months. Usually, car manufacturing companies do not recommend filling or ordinary water in the radiator. Instead, you should use car liquid coolant.
What are the important parts of an engine cooling system?
A car engine cooling system comprises a radiator, radiator cap, pipes, channels around the engine block and cylinder head, water or liquid coolant, drive motor or water pump, radiator fan, thermostat, a water reservoir, and temperature sensor.
Final Thoughts
The engine cooling system plays a crucial role in maintaining the optimal performance and longevity of an engine. By effectively regulating the engine’s temperature, the cooling system ensures that the engine operates within the ideal temperature range, preventing overheating and the associated risks of engine damage and failure.
The car engine cooling system consists of various components such as radiator, fan, water pump and pipes that works in harmony and absorb heat from the engine. Dissipate this heat into the atmosphere and provide the optimal condition to work engine properly with full efficiency. Engine cooling system works throughout the engine running and keep functioning until the engine switch-off. Modern cars come with advanced electronic control systems that precisely monitor the engine temperature and provide precise awareness to the driver. EVs also use similar type of cooling system to maintain batteries and motors temperatures.
