How a radiator works?

The radiator in a car engine is a part of the engine cooling system—a system to control the engine heat temperature. The engine cooling system can prevent your engine from overheating, thus creating an efficient engine performance, economical fuel consumption, and long-lasting engine usage.

Most cars attach the radiator in front of the car behind the grille. It has purposes for the radiator to catch the wind more easily and effectively cool down the coolant temperature. The radiator fan is always attached behind the radiator to maximize the cooling function in every condition.

Yes, the radiator holds an important function in the cooling system. A radiator is a place for the coolant to release its heat. The coolant itself is a liquid material were circulates in and out from the engine. The coolant brings the heat out from the engine to the radiator and cools down inside the radiator. In a simple way, a radiator cools the coolant, which then cools your engine temperatures. So, how does the work of radiator?

Parts of radiator

Before we learn the work of radiator, the radiator itself has several parts gathered as a radiator assembly. Yes, the radiator contains several parts to work correctly to cool down the coolant temperature. Below are the parts of radiator and their function:

1. Upper tank (inlet tank)

The upper tank (inlet tank) in the radiator collects the coolant from the engine, especially the hot coolant temperature. Upper tank connected with upper/inlet hose.

2. Core pipes and fins

Core pipes and fins are used to release the heat from the coolant to the open air. Core pipes are tunnels connected to the upper tank and the lower tank. It is made from copper or aluminum. The fins are used to spread the heat so the coolant can release heat quickly.

3. Lower tank (outlet tank)

The lower tank (outlet tank) is used to collect the cooler coolant (after cooling down from core pipes and fins) before entering the engine water jacket.

4. Radiator pressure cap

A Radiator pressure cap is used to control the pressure generated from the heat as the coolant temperatures rise in the engine.

5. Reservoir tank

A Reservoir tank is used to collect the coolant if the cooling system has overpressure or to provide the coolant if the system is in low-level condition.

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How does a radiator work?

The work of radiator begins when the hot coolant flows in from the engine through the radiator hose. The coolant fills the upper tank and flows to the lower tank through core pipes.

As the hot coolant goes through inside the radiator and fills up the radiator, the existing coolant is pushed to the engine. When cooler coolant hits the thermostat, the thermostat will close its valve. This condition makes the coolant flow to the radiator being stopped.

The coolant inside the radiator is slowly flowing and starts to cool down its temperature. The heat from the coolant spread to the core pipes body and the fins. At the same time, the radiator fan sucks the fresh air to flow through the core pipes and fins.

The fresh air grabs the heat from the core pipes and fins, so the heat from the coolant is released to the open air and makes the coolant temperature cool down. See the cooling process on the core pipes and fins from the animation below.

When the thermostat valve opens, the cooler coolant on the core pipes is pushed to the lower tank and through the lower hose to get into the engine. At the same time, the hot coolant from the engine is flowing to the upper tank radiator again and starting to cool down its temperature again.

Suppose the cooling system is unstable and raises the coolant pressure. In that case, the radiator pressure cap will open the pressure valve and let the coolant flow to the reservoir tank. If the pressure is lower than the cap pressure, the valve will close, and the cooling process starts over again.