#RADIATOR FLUID CRACK#

The radiator consists of tubes, where the water circulates, and fins, which air passes through to cool the tubes.Īs the coolant is heated up by the engine, it will enter the radiator as a hot liquid.

Now that we have established how the different components of the cooling system work, it’s time to talk about the component that actually does the cooling: the radiator! If you have ever noticed a fan continuing to operate after you have turned off the car, it is the cooling fan working to cool the engine down. The cooling fan is operated by a fan switch which will turn the fan on or off, depending on the current engine temperature. As a solution, a more powerful cooling fan is installed. Rear-engined cars generally have a tougher time cooling the engine. As a result, the radiator will have more to work with and the liquid will be cooled appropriately. When this happens, the cooling fan assists the radiator by drawing more air into it. If the car is still, or driving slowly, the amount of air might be insufficient to cool the liquid. Cooling Fanįor the radiator to cool the liquid, it uses air that is sucked in as the car is moving. If you would like to read more about this remarkable piece of engineering, be sure to check our article “How Does A Thermostat Work”. The thermostat is a very interesting piece of engineering, using a type of wax to determine when it should open. When the engine reaches a point higher temperature, usually above 200☏, the thermostat valve opens, letting the coolant pass through and cool the engine. It ensures that no coolant is running through the engine unless it has reached its operating temperature. The thermostat is located between the engine and the radiator. The role of the water pump is to send the cooling liquid to the engine block and cylinder head gasket. The antifreeze is circulated in the cooling system by the water pump, also called the coolant pump.Īfter the coolant has been passed through the radiator, the liquid is cold, providing a cooling effect. The engine is cooled with the help of antifreeze. This will help you gain a better understanding of how the cooling system works, and determine if it really is the radiator that is faulty. In this article, most attention will be given to the radiator itself, but other components will be briefly touched upon. Most modern cooling systems feature the following: The cooling system consists of other dedicated components, in addition to the radiator. In modern cars, the cooling system consists of several components where the radiator handles the main cooling. To learn more, head to our article explaining how car engines work.

#RADIATOR FLUID CRACK#

The plastic parts of the engine will melt, and components made of aluminum and other metals could crack and swell, causing serious damage.įor example, the head gasket could crack, allowing water to leak into the cylinders. If this heat is not dealt with, the engine could be severely damaged. They use an air-cooled engine, meaning the air goes directly into the engine compartment and cools it.Īs an internal combustion engine works and produces power, a great amount of heat is generated. Usually, when a radiator is not used, the cars in question are vintage. Today, the vast majority of cars have radiators, but you might be surprised to hear that some do not. The radiator is usually located in the front of the car.

Radiator fluid