Parts, Workings, and Common Issues with the Car Cooling System 

The cooling system in a car ensures that the engine runs at the right temperature without overheating. Considering the amount of heat the engine produces, cooling the engine can be a huge challenge. An average car traveling at 50mph creates about 4000 explosions every minute. As a result of friction between moving parts, heat is also produced along with the explosions. When the engine is exposed to this amount of heat, it can suffer severe damage, if not destroyed. 

Liquid transports heat away from the engine with modern cooling systems. Thus, a well-functioning cooling system is necessary to ensure the vehicle's efficiency. 

Dolphin Radiators, based on its three decades of experience, has compiled some details about how the cooling system of a car works, the components, and the problems. 

How Does the Cooling System Work? 

Convection, a method of heat transfer, is how cooling systems operate. By means of convection, the heated water in the cooling system also heats the air around it, which is subsequently circulated throughout the space. The hot water begins to cool down as it passes through the system. 

Engines produce a lot of heat during operation of the tiny explosives! Your car circulates coolant through your engine to keep it from overheating. Coolant absorbs heat and transfers it away from the engine block.  

The coolant transfers the heat produced by your engine to your cooling system, which circulates air across the liquid to reduce its temperature and exchange heat with the ambient air in your automobile. 

The cooling system functions by flowing your coolant via thin metal fins, which greatly facilitates the movement of heat to the air outside your car. To move the hot air out of your car, a fan will occasionally blow air across the cooling system. 

Cooling systems exist in a wide variety of sizes, forms, and styles, but their essential purpose never changes. 

How Does the Car Cool? 

An engine's coolant is circulated through cooling system tubes, where heat that the coolant has received from the engine is released into the atmosphere before it is returned to the engine. 

When coolant reaches the pipes, it is overheated and under tremendous pressure (aided by turbulence inside the cooling system pipes). 

As a result, the cooling system cap opens at a specific pressure level. 

When the heat is dissipated, any extra coolant might flow into an overflow tank that is affixed to the side of the cooling system. 

Once the cooling system's temperature has suitably decreased, the coolant is subsequently redirected to the cooling system. 

Although cooling system and cooling systems vary slightly from model to model (particularly in older automobiles versus newer ones), this is the general method used by most systems. 

Parts of A Cooling System of a Car 

Keeping an engine cool is an intricate process involving many parts, with each playing a separate role. To better comprehend our favorite machinery, let's examine the components and roles of the car cooling system. 

Here is a list of the cooling system's components:

1. Radiator 
2. Thermostat 
3. Water Pump 
4. Pressure Cap 
5. Heater Core 
6. Cooling Fan 
7. Hoses 
8. Freeze Plug 
9. Coolant Explosion Tank 

1. Radiator:

The coolant, a fluid, warms up as it moves through the hot engine. Before the process can begin again, the radiator contributes to cooling the fluid. For heat dissipation, antifreeze flows through metal fins. Most radiators contain two coolant tanks, either on the top and bottom or on both sides. One must always opt for finest radiators available in the market. Dolphin Radiators are heat exchanger industry experts since 30+ years and manufacture and supply the best radiators globally.

2. Thermostat:

Extremely hot to extremely cold conditions must all be experienced by the engine. The thermostat controls how much coolant enters the system. 

The thermostat utilizes a valve to control the coolant flow since the temperature inside the system is low when you start the engine. The valve opens as the engine heats up, allowing coolant to flow through the complete cooling system of the car.

3. Water Pump 

The coolant pumps through the engine using the water pump. It is crucial to remove heat from the engine to prevent damage and failure because the heat produced by the burning fuel is approximately 4,500 degrees. To remove heat, the water pump forces coolant through the cylinder head, heater core, and engine block. The radiator is where the coolant cools off. 

A malfunctioning water pump will impede the operation of the cooling system, causing the engine to overheat and occasionally fail entirely. A belt that occasionally needs to be replaced powers the pump.

4. Pressure Cap/Radiator Cap 

As its major purpose is to maintain the pressure in the cooling system, the radiator cap is often referred to as a pressure cap. The coolant's boiling point rises due to the high pressure in the car cooling system, which aids in a faster cooling process. Consequently, the pressure cap is a crucial part that requires regular replacement. 

5. The heater Core 

The heater core functions as a mini radiator, drawing heat from the heated coolant and distributing it around the cabin. When it is freezing outside, it is how you get a burst of warm air in your car.

6. Cooling Fan 

The radiator has cooling fans that circulate clean air over the radiator, further cooling the engine. However, the fan only works when the engine temperature reaches 230°F or more. The increased airflow helps in more effective cooling. The front of the car is where the fan is. When the coolant gets too hot, it automatically switches on and shuts off when the coolant is at the proper temperature.

7. Hoses 

The hoses are a network of pipes that link the engine and radiator so that coolant can go through them. They are composed of sturdy materials since they must withstand intense pressure and heat. They might start to leak and possibly lose their connection to the radiator if you don't get them checked and replace them at regular intervals.

8. Freeze Plug 

Another component of the automotive cooling system that assists in protecting the engine is the freeze plug. The coolant can freeze when the car is stationary in cold climates, just like water expands when it freezes. The engine block is at risk from the freezing coolant and could potentially crack. When the coolant freezes, the freeze plug pops out of the engine block even though it can resist the pressure of a running engine.

9. Coolant Explosion Tank 

Every time there is a change in volume, the coolant explosion tank serves as a reservoir for more coolant. For example, the coolant expands when it warms up. The extra quantity is then stored in the overflow tank, keeping the cooling system's coolant level accurate. Additionally, the tank cap makes use of a unique valve to maintain the pressure and keep air out of the system.  Never open the overflow tank or the radiator cap while the engine is still hot. It might cause some serious injuries and fatal burns.

Common Issues That You May Face with Your Cooling System 

• Failed Thermostat: One of the most frequent reasons for overheating engines is a malfunctioning thermostat. If it doesn't work properly, heat won't dissipate, which will cause the engine to overheat and break down. 
  Solution: Start the car to warm up the engine. Utilize a temperature gauge to locate the radiator hoses behind the hood and check their temperature. The thermostat needs to be replaced if the engine overheats yet only one radiator hose is cold. 
   
• Clogged Radiator: The complete operation of the vehicle cooling system will unquestionably be hampered by a clogged radiator. Here's how to check your radiator if you think it's clogged, and the engine is overheating. 
  Solution: Before you intend to investigate the radiator, park the vehicle. Remove the radiator cap after it has cooled down and inspect it for any interior buildup of junk. Analogously, look for any accumulation on the radiator's outside. On the outside, any problem is solved quickly. If you discover the accumulation within, it might need to be replaced. 
   
• Cooling System Leakage: The effectiveness of the system to maintain engine temperature will be reduced if there is a leak in the cooling system. As a result, any leak needs to be identified and fixed right away. 
  
  Solution: Before removing the pressure cap from the system, let the engine cool. Apply pressure to the system while using a cooling system pressure tester. Check the cooling system parts of the car for any leaks. Add coolant dye to the cooling system if there isn't a leak. Use the car as you normally would, keeping an eye out for any dye residue. If you see the dye, there is probably a leak. 
   
• Water Pump Failure: The water pump is a crucial component of the cooling system in a car. If it fails, the engine will overheat because it carried the coolant throughout the whole engine block.
  
  Solution: Park your vehicle and let the engine cool. Start the engine after removing the pressure cap from the system. The coolant circulation can be visually inspected to show that everything is in order. However, the water pump might need to be replaced if it is not operating. Like this, check to see if there are any leaks, moisture issues, or buildup on the water pump. 

It is essential to be aware of a machinery that you utilize on a regular basis. Remember, there is always something new to find out especially when you are dealing with a complicated machinery. 

Maintaining regular checks will prevent multiple mishaps. However, if you are ever faced with one make sure to reach out to experts.