In general terms, a standard radiator contains a vertical or horizontal finned tubing section connected between two tanks. It is designed to hold an abundant amount of water and ethylene glycol, or antifreeze, and circulates through the car's grille in discreet passages that contact with the atmosphere to cool the liquid. Because of this process, heat is conducted away from the engine parts allowing smooth performance of the engine. The outside air that passes through the radiator grille helps to cool the liquid, which then circulates back to the engine by means of another hose. The radiator reduces the temperature of the coolant, which has absorbed the heat from the engine, keeping it within a normal operating temperature. It is vitally important that you check your radiator regularly. Overheating an engine can cause permanent damage. A leaking radiator will cause your engine to run at a higher than normal temperature and may cost you huge dollars in engine repair costs. A radiator should always be completely filled with water, antifreeze/coolant or a mixture thereof. Allowing the presence of air pockets in the radiator will produce more internal pressure than liquid coolant because gases expand under heat tremendously more than liquids, and high pressure also results in higher operating temperatures. The radiator can also accumulate internal residue and/or corrode over time. The cooling efficiency can be dramatically reduced as a result. If you find your vehicle is running at higher than normal temperatures, it may be time to install a new replacement or high performance radiator.
The heater core is more or less a small radiator usually located under the dashboard. Coolant fluid is circulated from the main engine radiator to the heater core, but only when you turn the vehicle’s heater on. The internal heater control unit opens or closes a valve that meters the flow of coolant fluid to the heater core. That allows heat to radiate from the heater core. This is why your vehicle runs cooler when you have the heater on. The fin-like configuration of the heater core permits hot air passage into the vehicle. The hot fluid transfers its heat to the air through the fins and into the interior of your vehicle. When the heater core channels become restricted or plugged, the flow of hot liquid slows or stops. This, in turn, reduces or even eliminates the heat transfer efficiency to the flow of air and your vehicles’ heater doesn’t work very well. Flushing the radiator and heater core can sometimes improve the flow of liquid to the heater core, but replacement is usually a better option. A sweet, burning smell inside your vehicle when the heater fan is operating is a telltale sign of heater core problems. Another indicator is that the inside of your windows fog up when the heat is turned on. This is due to condensation built up from the blockage or restriction. The heater core is a significant component of the unrestricted air/heat/cooling system circulation assembly that provides heat and cooling.
|
Car Parts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|