Automotive Q & A

Knowledge Database - Radiator

Question: How does a radiator function?

Answer: Most of your vehicle’s energy in converted to heat. Just think, all of the moving parts in your engine create much friction and give off much heat energy. The oil in your engine and your vehicle’s exhaust system take care of some of the heat, but the cooling system has to take care of the rest. Your cooling system is in charge of, for lack of a better word, cooling your engine. The cooling system has to make sure that your engine doesn’t overheat and breakdown. Your engine’s radiator is one of the most important parts of your cooling system. Your engine’s temperature is constantly watched by a special thermostat. When the engine gets too hot, the thermostat releases engine coolant, or antifreeze, from your radiator into your engine. The antifreeze travels through the engine’s pipes and passageways to absorb heat and cool the engine. Then, the antifreeze returns to the radiator to be cooled. The antifreeze is cooled three different ways. First, your radiator contains many small chambers through which the antifreeze travels to cool. All of the excess heat then escapes through the radiator’s walls. Second, your engine uses a fan located between the engine and the radiator, and third, the radiator uses the air that blows into the engine through your vehicle’s grill to aid in the cooling process. Once the antifreeze is cooled, it is ready to be re-released into the engine to keep your engine cool and running smoothly.

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