The Radiator Factor
If you own a car, you are supposed to know where the radiator
is. But do you know what a radiator does to your car engine and
how important it is for total engine efficiency? If you don't,
then it is important that you should read this article.
The radiator on your car is installed there to help disperse the
heat created by your car engine. Without the radiator, your car
engine would likely overheat and further cease to function.
As you well know a running car engine can pretty well heat up
vary fast. Without any heat dispersal unit like the radiator,
you car engine will be prone to engine breakdowns that will
finally lead to engine damage that will be beyond repair.
The radiator consists of either vertically or
horizontally-finned tubing that's connected between two tanks.
Radiators are designed to hold large amounts of water in its
tubes and passages, which will give the radiator a large area
that is always in contact with the atmosphere.
The water that is inside the radiator is being circulated
through the engine through a radiator hose by a water pump. As
the water passes through the engine, it absorbs some of the heat
and cools off the engine.
The heated water is then pumped back to the radiator where is it
cooled again by the outside air that passes through the radiator
grille. The cooled water is again circulated back to the engine.
This cycle goes on over and over as long as the engine is
running and makes for a very efficient cooling system for the
car engine.
Water alone in the radiator can do the job in cooling the car
engine. But there are also additives available that can improve
the water's cooling properties. That is why many people mix the
water with an effective coolant. This makes the water in the
radiator quickly disperse the heat that it has absorbed from the
engine as well as absorb as much heat as possible as it passes
through the car engine.
During winter, especially when the temperature is below
freezing, it is advisable to add some antifreeze to the water
inside the radiator. If you use water alone on your radiator
during the winter, it would likely freeze solid and may damage
your radiator and will not effectively work as a cooling unit
for your car engine.
The antifreeze prevents the water in the radiator from freezing
even on very cold temperatures, thereby enabling the water to
circulate from the radiator to the car engine and back again.
There are times when your radiator can't do its job properly
resulting in engine overheat due to very hot summer weather.
Engine overheating can be dealt with by simply pulling over by
the roadside, opening the hood of your car and letting the
engine cool off.
You can also deal with an overheated radiator by turning off the
A/C to reduce the engine temperature. Turn on the evaporator fan
located in front of the radiator that adds more air going to the
car engine.
Then turn on your heater blower and set it to its highest
setting. This will cool the car engine by transferring excess
heat from the car engine into the passing air.
It is also advisable to check the radiator's overflow tank
coolant level. If it is empty, then your radiator is probably
low on coolant. Try to also check your radiator from time to
time for leakage. A leaking radiator may cost you loads of
preventable expenses later on if left unnoticed for a long time.