Car Radiator


The cooling system of the car and functioning

Energy lost to heat

The purpose of a fuel engine to convert chemical energy (stored 'in, for example petrol or diesel) into kinetic energy. That will always be better, but is still only about 30% of the supplied energy is converted into mechanical power: 70% is lost as heat. Thus, the engine is warm. And if we are not careful, he is even hot. In ancient times it was too bad, because the power was limited. The residual heat of a 10 horsepower motor can easily be dissipated by buitenlucht.Luchtkoeling (or direct cooling) is called so. With increasing engine power problems arose, however refrigeration. If an engine is really hot, then melt all rubbers, the oil is thin as water and turn the piston so far that they get stuck in their cylinders. In short, the whole thing turns into soup. Cooling fins created a larger cooling surface so the wind could discharge more heat and worked with forced air cooling, with fans blowing air through the engine. The modern engine, the more important is the operating temperature. There is really only a temperature at which the engine performs best. All parts shrink because when it is cold and expand as they warm up. They are so constructed so that they are exactly correct size as the engine temperature. To more accurately and be able to cool, the water cooling (or indirect) invented refrigeration.

Water cooling

Water cooling is actually still air, but indirectly. Instead of the air the engine cools, it cools down the radiator and the cooling water that runs through them. A water pump circulates water through the radiator, through the numerous channels in the engine and hoses through (and including a water pump) back to the radiator. With water cooling the engine can be better cooled, partly because the radiator in the right place can be set to the wind to catch, before the engine just behind the grille. If the engine is cold, put the water stopped, so the engine reaches operating temperature. The thermostat controls the cooling function: the engine too hot, then circulate the water, the temperature drops below operating temperature than the water flow quietly put back. Are you on a hot summer day in traffic, then the radiator no longer, because there is no wind and the water cools enough in the radiator. A fan will start turning to still air blowing through the radiator and the water so cool. Even the fan has a thermostat function again, which he "knows" when and how fast it should run. A water-cooled engine makes a lot less noise, partly because the cylinders more or less surrounded by water.

The hotter the cooling water, the greater the temperature difference between the air and the greater the cooling capacity. But the water should also not touch the boil and that is why the cooling system under pressure. The boiling point is higher and so is also no fluid is lost through evaporation. If the pressure gets too high, then a safety valve in the steam radiator removal. This will only happen if something is not right with your car's cooling system. Most cars have a coolant temperature gauge. So please look there for when the weather is hot and you for the traffic light staat.Als the cooling is not optimal, you can see the meter rise toward the red area. That solves the problem of course, but you better think about is your local garage, somewhere in an emergency. In critical cases you still have quite some influence on the cooling:

When we talk about cooling and water cooling, we should actually speak of cooling and liquid cooling. To the cooling water is because ethylene glycol is added, better known as antifreeze. Very important, because water has the annoying ability to 9% off when it freezes: no antifreeze and with a little luck, you engine winter bursting... With luck, by the way, jumping instead of caps the block who ever placed the holes in the casting process to fill. Do you have summer do not need antifreeze? Yes, because ethylene glycol raises the boiling point of the coolant, thus better cooling. Antifreeze also prevents corrosion in the cooling system.

Operation Radiator / Water Pump / Cooling

The radiator cools the water as well as the tubes through which water flows associated with thin, fine-meshed metal plates that heat them quickly to give the air that flows through it. But the radiator is full of flies, anyway, it hardly flows through air and cools it does not. It is therefore important to him somewhat clean. Be careful, because the metal plates and are easily damaged. High-pressure spray or brush on it and not wash if the radiator is hot, because cold water can cause a temperature shock, which damaged the structure. For oil coolers and radiator of the air is the same way.