Components of cooling system in a car engine

Engine cooling system in a car is a system that provides to control the heat produced by the engine, mostly for an internal combustion engine. The engine cooling system maintains the engine at a constant temperature, whether the outside air temperature is 120 degrees Fahrenheit or five below zero.

If the engine temperature is too low, fuel economy will suffer, and emissions will rise. If the temperature is allowed to get too hot for too long, the engine will self-destruct.

In most modern cars, the engine cooling system uses liquid (known as coolant) as a major material to absorb the heat and release it into the air. The liquid is circulated in several periods. It flows in and out to the engine depending on the engine workload and the outside temperature.

As a system, the engine cooling system consists of several components. This article will inform you of the major components of a car engine cooling system and its function. See the components of cooling system for the car engine below.

1. Radiator

The first component of cooling system is the radiator. The radiator is used to release heat from coolants were delivered from the engine. Generally, a radiator is placed in front of the car to catch the wind and cool down the coolant temperature.

The radiator has several components, such as

Upper tank; Upper tank collects the hot coolant from the engine before entering the core pipes and fins.
Core pipes and fins; Core pipes and fins are used to release the heat from the coolant to the air.
Lower tank; The lower tank is used to collect the cooler coolant (after cooling down from core pipes and fins) before entering the engine water jacket.

After the radiator and the coolant reduce the heat, the cooler coolant flows back to the engine and replaces the existing coolant.

The existing coolant (heated coolant inside the engine) is delivered back to the radiator again. With this flow, the cooler coolant can absorb the heat produced by the engine combustion, so the engine components always work at a normal working temperature.

2. Radiator cap

The next component of cooling system in the car engine is a radiator cap. The radiator cap is a part of the radiator, but it has a different function. The radiator cap regulates the coolant's pressure because it gets heated by the engine or when the coolant level is low.

Generally, the radiator cap has two valves: a vacuum valve and a pressure valve. A vacuum valve lets the coolant flow from the reservoir tank to the engine if the coolant inside the engine is low or in a cold condition.

Meanwhile, the pressure valve lets the coolant flow from the engine to the reservoir tank when the pressure inside the engine cooling system is overpressure. These valves both work whenever the radiator coolant and pressure is below and above normal condition.

3. Reservoir tank

The Reservoir tank is a part of the radiator but attached separately with a hose. The Reservoir tank is used to collect the coolant when the cooling system is in overpressure condition. If the cooling system is in vacuum condition, the reservoir tank provides coolant availability.

4. Radiator Fan

Another component of cooling system in a car engine is the radiator fan. A radiator fan is used to suck the air in front of the radiator. When the air flows through the radiator cores and fins, the air will grab the heat and cool down the coolant temperature.

There are two types of radiator fan drivers. First, the radiator fan is driven by a belt called a fan belt. The second is a radiator fan driven by an electric motor called a motor fan radiator.

5. Radiator Hoses

Radiator hoses are another component of cooling system in a car engine. Radiator hose connecting the engine water jacket with the radiator so the coolant can circulate effectively. The radiator hose is made of rubber with a special design.

The upper hose radiator connects the upper tank of the radiator with the purpose of the engine coolant output flow. Meanwhile, the lower hose radiator connects the lower tank radiator with the engine coolant input flow.

6. Bypass hoses

A bypass hose connects the coolant channel between one component to another component in the engine, for example, from the water pipe to the water jacket or from the water pipe to the throttle body. Bypass hoses are also made from rubber, and its tiny than radiator hoses.

7. Waterpipe

Some cars model use water pipes as a part of components of cooling system in a car engine. The water pipe connects the engine (water jacket) and the water pump in circulating flow.

The water pipe is used to make an internal circulation of coolant when the engine temperature is in cold condition. The coolant only flows inside the engine actually when the thermostat is in a closed state.

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8. Waterpump

Waterpump in a car engine cooling system is used to pump the coolant to circulate to the entire cooling system (from the engine to the radiator and back again to the engine). Waterpump usually attached in front of the engine block, a belt drives some, and some are driven by gear.

9. Thermostat

The thermostat in a car engine cooling system is used to arrange the coolant flow automatically by temperature change. Yes, the thermostat is a valve operated automatically by temperature changes. If the coolant temperature is hot, then the thermostat valve is open. If it's cold, then the valve is closed.

When the valve of the thermostat is open, the hot coolant will flow to the radiator. On the opposite, the cooler coolant from radiator will flow into the engine and replacing the hot coolant before.

After all coolants inside the engine are cooler than before, the thermostat valve will close. The cooler coolant will absorb the engine heat, and the hot coolant inside the radiator will release the heat.

10. Water jacket

The water jacket is a room inside the engine block and the cylinder head. It covered all the engine cylinders. It is used for coolant places inside the engine to absorb the heat were produces by the working engine.

11. Temperature gauge

The temperature gauge is a component of cooling system in a car engine. It is used to measure the heat level of the coolant. The heat value is sent to the temperature indicator on the dashboard panel in front of the driver.

Suppose the engine coolant temperature is in a low condition. In that case, the pointer on the temperature gauge will be pointing at the C mark (which means "cool"). And if the engine coolant temperature is in hot conditions, the pointer will point at H (hot) mark.

The temperature gauge pointer will be pointing in the center position between the C and the H marks in the normal situation.

12. Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor

The last component of cooling system in a car engine is the engine coolant temperature sensor. This component is used for car engines with Electronic Fuel Injection System. Its function is to measure the engine coolant temperature and bring the data to the Engine Control Unit.

With this data, the engine control unit can adjust the engine performance inefficient modes such as fuel injection and ignition timing.