The Cooling System

UNIT TWO: REMOVE AND DISASSEMBLED SYSTEM ASSEMBLIES
The Cooling System

Coolant is a liquid mixture of about 50 percent antifreeze and 50 percent water used to carry
heat out of the engine.
Engine coolant is forced from the water pump into the engine block. The coolant flows around
the outside of the cylinder walls. Coolant continues to flow from the engine block
through passages in the head gaskets into the cylinder head. The coolant flow through the
cylinder head provides cooling for the valves, combustion chambers and spark plugs. The
cooling system keeps the engine at its most efficient temperature at all speeds and operating
conditions. Burning fuel in the engine produces heat. Some of this heat must be taken away
before it damages engine parts. This is one of the three jobs performed by the cooling system.
It also helps bring the engine to normal operating temperature as quickly as possible. In
addition, the cooling system provides a source of heat for the passenger compartment heater.
Cooling-System Components and their Functions
1. Water Jacket – space between the inner and outer shells of the cylinder block or
cylinder head, through which coolant circulates
2. Water Pump – an engine-driven centrifugal pump that circulates coolant between the
engine water jacket and the radiator.
3. Engine Fan or Cooling Fan – pulls or pushes the additional air through the radiator. It
maybe either a mechanical fan or an electric fan.
4. Drive Belt – a continuous loop of reinforced rubber used to transmit power between to
shafts.
5. Radiator – heat exchanger that removes heat from coolant passing through it;
receives hot coolant from the engine and returns the coolant to the engine at a lower
temperature.
6. Thermostat – a heat-operated valve that regulates the flow of liquid-coolant between
the engine and the radiator, thereby controlling coolant temperature; a control device
containing a temperature-sensitive element that automatically reacts to temperature
changes by bending and straightening, or expanding or contracting.
Types of cooling systems
a) Air-cooled
Air-cooled: Some older cars, and very few modern cars, are air-cooled. Instead of circulating
fluid through the engine, the engine block is covered in aluminum fins that conduct the heat
away from the cylinder. A powerful fan forces air over these fins, which cools the engine by
transferring the heat to the air
b) Liquid-cooled
The cooling system on liquid-cooled cars circulates a fluid through pipes and passageways in the
engine. As this liquid passes through the hot engine it absorbs heat, cooling the engine. After
the fluid leaves the engine, it passes through a heat exchanger, or radiator, which transfers the
heat from the fluid to the air blowing through the exchanger.
Cooling system problem
a) Engine overheating
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The most common cooling system problem is overheating. There are many reasons for this.
Diagnosis of this condition involves many steps, simply because many things can cause this
problem. Basically, overheating can be caused by anything that decreases the cooling system’s
ability to absorb, transport, and dissipate heat: The first step is to determine whether the
engine is indeed overheating.
Then recheck the system’s temperature.
Condition
1 Overheats in heavy traffic or after idling for long time
Cause
■ Low coolant level
■ Faulty radiator cap
■ Faulty thermostat
■ Cooling fan is not turning on
■ Restricted airflow through the radiator
■ Leaking head gasket
■ Restricted exhaust
■ Water pump impeller is corroded
2 Overheats when driving at speed,
Cause
■ Radiator and/or block are internally clogged with rust, scale, silt, or gel
■ Radiator fins are corroded and falling off
■ Water pump impeller is corroded
3 Overheats any time or Erratically
■ Low coolant level
■ Temperature sender or related electrical problem
4 Overheats shortly after the engine is started
■ Temperature sender or related electrical problem
5 Seems slightly too hot all of the time;
■ Radiator and/or block are internally clogged with rust, scale, silt, or gel
■ Radiator fins are corroded and falling off
■ Collapsed lower radiator hose
6 Bubbles in the coolant expansion tank
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■ Failed head gasket
7 Air in the radiator but the expansion tank is full
■ Coolant leak
■ Air in the system
■ Faulty seal between the radiator cap and expansion tank
■ Failed head gasket
Check for external And internal leaks
i. External leaks
Usual areas of leakage are water manifolds, radiator seams, water pumps, freeze plugs and all
those connections.
• Cracked cylinder block
• Faulty radiator cap
• Dented radiator inlet of outlet tube
• Radiator leak
• Cracked or porous water pump housing
• Water core leak
• Loose core hole plug in cylinder block
• Cracked thermostat housing
ii. Internal leaks
Pull the oil dipstick and check for evidence of coolant. It will show up as minute droplets or
sludge and should be easy to spot. This could indicate a cracked head, block or blown head
gasket.
C. Cooling system inspection and test
a) Inspecting Cooling System for Leaks
b) Radiator Checks
c) Checking Hoses
d) Checking Fans
e) Thermostat
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The Cooling System

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UNIT TWO: REMOVE AND DISASSEMBLED SYSTEM ASSEMBLIES

The Cooling System

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