What is a car cooling system?

What is the cooling system in a car?

Despite what some less car savvy individuals may say, your car's cooling system is not your A/C. Rather the cooling system is a carefully designed system of hoses,fans,piping,and special fluids to keep engines cool as many engines run easily over 200 degrees in temperature.

The cooling system begins with the radiator. The radiator is a high temperature designed container that holds the car's coolant/antifreeze. The radiator is hooked up to two main hoses that run through the engine itself. A water pump pulls coolant from the radiator into the hoses that run through your engine; as the coolant heats pressure builds and the fluid is pushed through to the other hose that reconnects with the radiator.

Mounted on the radiator is a fan (sometimes two) that activate when the engine compartment reaches a certain temperature. Not only do the fans keep the air around the engine moving, they also pull the heat away from the coolant that is passing through the radiator so the coolant going into through the hoses is cooled down. Most cars also have some sort of design in the frontal section of the car that channels cool moving air into the engine compartment while moving. These air scoops on most cars are hidden under the front bumper and behind the grille, although sports cars tend to have visible ones which add function and style to the car.

An overflow tank is also connected by a smaller hose to the top of the radiator; if the fluid becomes too heated it causes a pressure build up and overflows into the overflow tank. Occasionally the temperature gets too high and causes a pressure buildup that the overflow tank can't handle. In that case the radiator cap can blow off under the pressure which can be dangerous but also prevents the radiator itself from blowing. The hoses may also crack or come loose either in cold weather or extreme heat.

In cold weather antifreeze coolant is used, so that the cooling fluids do not freeze in the winter time because frozen fluids can not thaw quick enough to cool the engine properly. Most coolants are high temperature rated with many being able to safely withstand temperatures above 250 degrees and freeze ratings below -30 degrees.

Maintaining a well functioning cooling system is easy. However I should note that the cooling system can be dangerous if precautions are not taken. First make sure the engine and radiator is completely cooled because removing the radiator cap while still hot and cause very hot fluids to spray all over you and the engine. Also the fans operate separately from the ignition and engine so can turn on at anytime if it is hot in the engine compartment.

The cooling system should be flushed out about once or twice a year. This can be done by placing a large plastic container under one of the hoses so that when the hoses are unclamped, the fluids will go in the container and not in the ground as a toxin. You'll want to disconnect the hose that goes from the engine to radiator (the engine exit hose) then remove the main radiator cap. Take a garden hose and insert it gently in the top of the radiator (where cap was) and slowly turn the water on. This will flush out the cooling system and keep it free of debris, build up, and old fluids.

The overflow tank can also be flushed. When finished be sure to secure the hoses and slowly fill up the radiator with coolant/antifreeze to the top. Fill the overflow tank with coolant but only up to the minimum line marking. Doing this once or twice a year can help keep your cooling system running well which will keep your entire engine running cool and consistent.