Engine cooling system - learn about its device! Check how your car's cooling system works
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Engine cooling system - learn about its device! Check how your car's cooling system works

A car is made up of many elements necessary for it to function properly. The engine cooling system is undoubtedly one of them. How can I take care of car maintenance and determine if this component is not working properly? Knowing what an engine cooling system is for and how it works will help you with this.. Thanks to this, driving will become much more pleasant and safer. The sooner you recognize the symptoms of a car breakdown, the easier and cheaper it will be to repair it.

What is an engine cooling system for?

Motors generate heat during operation. Usually their temperature is up to 150°C, but the optimum is in the range of 90-100°C. The cooling system is designed to keep the engine within this temperature range. This ensures the correct operation of the vehicle as a whole. 

Too high a temperature can lead to deformation and even melting of the metal, which will change the design of the engine. A faulty engine cooling system, in turn, can even lead to its combustion. Replacement often costs more than a few thousand zł. That is why it is so important to ensure its proper functioning.

Cooling system design - what are the most important elements?

The design of the cooling system is not the most complicated. The system usually consists of several basic elements, which may differ slightly depending on the vehicle model, but are usually similar in appearance and function. 

The most important element of the engine cooling system, of course, is the radiator. It is there that the temperature of the liquid drops, which then flows through the following elements. This cools them down and prevents the engine from overheating. The engine cooling system is based primarily on the radiator and well-chosen fluid.

Cooling system diagram - what will you find inside?

There are other elements on the cooling system diagram, not only the radiator itself. In addition, an important function is played by a thermostat or temperature sensor. The coolant pump allows coolant to flow through the engine. There will also be an engine fan, an expansion tank and wires that will connect it all together. The engine cooling system must be fully functional to do its job.

Engine cooling system and fluid selection

Engine bays are getting smaller and smaller, so the engine cooling system is doing an increasingly important job. It should work like a Swiss watch. 

How does a car's cooling system work? The basis is the coolant, which must be selected in accordance with the model of the car. Pre-1996 vehicles will require a different fluid than 1996-2008 vehicles and newer post-2008 vehicles. For this reason, it's best to ask your mechanic what fluid to use.

Importantly, newer vehicles have longer fluid life. You can replace it every 5 years while older models require it every 2 years.

Engine cooling system - what was used many years ago?

You already know what an engine cooling system is for. It's also worth looking into some of the automotive history associated with it! Previously, only ... water was used to cool the engine. It was cheap and easy to top up. However, she had many shortcomings. Due to its density, it did not hold the desired temperature for long, and again it took a long time to change it. In addition, at low external temperatures, the water froze, increasing its volume. This not only lowered the temperature of the engine too much, but could also damage it.

Engine Cooling System - The thermostat was a revolution

Initially, the engine cooling system was not equipped with a thermostat.. This element allows you to better control the temperature. Over time, it was the thermostat that made the coolant circulate. Until the engine reaches the right temperature, water flows through it, and not through the radiator. The thermostat is responsible for opening the connection to the engine. This solution is effectively used to this day.

Engine cooling system - how to recognize a breakdown?

The engine cooling system affects its efficiency. For this reason, you will quickly notice when something goes wrong. A properly functioning system means that the car smokes less and emits less harmful substances, which is extremely important for the environment. A vehicle with a failed engine cooling system may lose power. You will also notice a difference in the driver's cabin itself, because the cooling system affects the operation of the airflow and ventilation.

Whenever you visit a mechanic, be sure to ask them to check that everything in the engine cooling system is working properly. Why? Thanks to this, you will better care for your car and make it workable for many years to come. Sometimes it may be necessary to flush the cooling system, and it's best not to over tighten! In addition, problems with the engine cooling system can be caused by corrosion or leaking engine fluids. For this reason, try to keep your finger on the pulse!

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