Why the stove cools down quickly in the car: the main malfunctions, what to do
Content
If the stove cools down quickly in the car, that is, immediately after turning on the fan, hot air blows, but after a few minutes the flow temperature drops, then driving in such a car in winter is uncomfortable. But such a malfunction can be independently eliminated by any owner of the vehicle, who has at least a little auto repair skills.
If the stove cools down quickly in the car, that is, immediately after turning on the fan, hot air blows, but after a few minutes the flow temperature drops, then driving in such a car in winter is uncomfortable. But such a malfunction can be independently eliminated by any owner of the vehicle, who has at least a little auto repair skills.
How the engine cooling and interior heating system works
In vehicles with a liquid (water) engine cooling system (power unit, motor), heat is released during the combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders. Channels running throughout the motor form a water jacket that removes excess heat from the power unit. The circulation of the coolant (antifreeze, coolant) is provided by a water pump, also known as a pump, from the English word “pump”. Leaving the pump, the antifreeze moves in two directions, in a small and large circle. The small circle passes through the radiator (heat exchanger) of the stove and ensures the operation of the interior heater, the large circle passes through the main radiator and ensures the optimum engine temperature (95–105 degrees). A detailed description of the operation of the engine cooling and interior heating systems can be found here (Stove device).
Why does the heater cool down quickly
If, after turning on the heater fan in the heating mode of the car interior, warm air starts to blow from the blowers, the temperature of which decreases slightly, then either the engine of your vehicle has not finished warming up, or there is some kind of defect in the interior heating system, which we talked about here (Not the stove heats up in the car, cold air blows). If immediately after you turn on the fan, it blows hot, but then the air stops heating, then there are 4 possible reasons:
- malfunction of the thermostat;
- a small circle is clogged;
- the heater heat exchanger is overgrown with dirt on the outside;
- inefficient cooling system.
If the thermostat is faulty, then it incorrectly distributes the coolant between both circles, as a result, the heater receives less thermal energy, which means that turning on the fan quickly cools its radiator and the stove cannot heat the air flow passing through it for a long time. If the small circle of the cooling system is clogged, then the movement of antifreeze through it is difficult, which means that the release of thermal energy through the heat exchanger is not enough to stably heat the incoming air.
Cooling system and stove in the car
If the outer surface of the stove radiator is covered with dirt, then its heat transfer is greatly reduced, which is why the first few seconds after the fan is turned on, hot air blows, because the inside of the stove is warmed up. However, such a radiator cannot heat the passing stream for a long time and starts to blow cold from the heater.
What to do
Since the stove cools down quickly in the car for various reasons, start the repair with a diagnosis, that is, make sure that all the parts of the small circle will heat up at the same time as the engine, if the engine is hot and at least one part of the small circle is cold, there is a high probability of blockage of this system . Wait until the engine finishes warming up and reaches operating temperature, then feel both pipes of the main radiator, if they are warm, then the thermostat is working, if only one is heated, the thermostat needs to be replaced.
Drain the antifreeze and disassemble the stove, remove all elements of the small circle. The procedure for performing this operation depends on the make and model of the machine, so before starting work, carefully study the instructions for its operation and repair, and also watch several videos that show such operations. Inspect the heater heat exchanger from the outside, make sure that its grill passes air well. If it is clogged with dirt, rinse it with water and a grease remover, then air dry. Connect a container of water to it from above and make sure that it passes a sufficient volume of liquid, approximately like a tube with an internal diameter ¼ smaller than its nozzle.
The stove cools down quickly - flushing the radiator
If the capacity is less, clean it of deposits or replace it. Then assemble the heater and fill in the old or new antifreeze. Remember: there is a high probability of an air lock, start the engine and monitor the coolant level in the radiator or expansion tank. On some cars, the expansion tank is located below the radiator, so there you need to monitor the fluid level in the heat exchanger.
Conclusion
If the stove cools down quickly in the car, then the interior cooling / heating system is not working properly, so the car needs repair. It is not difficult to eliminate the cause of such a malfunction; this will require tools that can be bought at the nearest auto shop.
