Automotive Spot

By Automotive Online

An automobile's cooling system is the collection of parts and substances (coolants) that work together to maintain the engine's temperature at optimal levels. Comprising many different components such as water pump, coolant, a thermostat, etc, the system enables smooth and efficient functioning of the engine at the same time protecting it from damage.



While it's running, an automobile's engine generates enormous amounts of heat. Each combustion cycle entails thousands of controlled explosions taking place every minute inside the engine. If the automobile races on and the heat generated within isn't dissipated, it would cause the engine to self-destruct. Hence, it is imperative to concurrently remove the waste heat. While the waste heat is also dissipated through the intake of cool air and exit of hot exhaust gases, the engine's cooling system is explicitly meant to keep the temperature within limits.

The cooling system essentially comprises passages inside the engine block and heads, a pump to circulate the coolant, a thermostat to control the flow of the coolant, a radiator to cool the coolant and a radiator cap controls the pressure within the system.

In order to achieve the cooling action, the system circulates the liquid coolant through passages in the engine block and heads. As it runs through, the coolant absorbs heat before returning to the radiator, to be cooled itself. Next, the cooled down coolant is recirculated and the cycle continues to maintain the engine's temperature at the right levels.

Engine Cooling System Components

A number of different constituents enable smooth operation of the automobile's cooling system. Some of the most essential ones are explained below.

Engine Cooling Fluids

An engine coolant is a fluid which flows through the engine and prevents it from overheating by transferring the heat generated by the engine to other components that either make use of it or dissipate it. Features of an ideal coolant entail a high low viscosity, thermal capacity, has chemical inertness and is low-cost. Further, it should neither cause or promote corrosion of the cooling system.

Water Cooling Systems

A water cooling system accomplishes the cooling action with the help of water. There are various components that make up the cooling system are the Air Blower, Cooling Fans, Radiator Pressure Caps, Water Pipes, Coolant Hoses, Radiator Parts, Radiators and Water Pumps. Each of these components plays an essential role. For instance, the radiator cools the coolant so that it can be reused, the water pump pumps the coolant through the system via water pipes, the Air Blower draws air through the radiator to achieve the cooling action, etc.

Valves

The cooling system valves have an essential role to play. An engine's cooling system for an internal combustion engine utilizing liquid coolant, includes a liquid coolant filled radiator and engine "water" jacket, a radiator cap to pressurize the radiator, a coolant pump and a thermostat. While the thermostat determines when it is appropriate to either prohibit coolant flow or to allow coolant flow between the engine or radiator, the valve assembly act like a door that opens up and closes as required.

Cooling System Gaskets

The cooling system for engines include a cylinder block defining a water jacket with in it, which has a an inlet. Further, a water pump housing is attached to the the cylinder block, and a water pump suction cover is fixed to the housing and sealed upon it by a gasket. The gasket plays an important role of projecting the water into the water jacket inlet so as to guide water within the system.

Aluminum Housing

A water pump housing entails a construction that supports the casing of a driven water pump within the cooling system. The housing plays the vital role of installing the pump and keeping it in position.

Buying Tips

1. Always prefer new auto parts instead of used ones.

2. Choose your suppliers carefully, establish a reasonable level of trust towards a supplier, through referrals, testimonial, or certifications.

3. Be wary of suppliers offering products at extraordinarily low prices.

4. Ensure the specifics of the products you require from the supplier, before placing the order, a sample inspection is often the best way to do it.

5. You need to understand the terms and conditions including warranties and guarantees associated with the supplies you order.

Industry Overview

Cooling systems are slated to evolve very fast during the coming years, for the most part due to several demands placed on manufacturers pertaining to stricter emission standards, pedestrian safety laws and for and increased pressure to achieve low fuel consumption. The automobile industry to brace up for all these and more challanges.

In addition, there the demand for making cooling systems compact than ever in order to better utilize the space inside the hood. Moreover, not only are all these demands simultaneous, that makes them challenging, but it is also the fact that all of it has to be achieved at costs that are acceptable.

Accommodating each of the demands will undoubtedly lead manufacturers to bring forth innovative designs. For instance, if the packaging space is to be reduced by a good margin in the vehicle front-end, then it is naturally essential to develop more efficient and tinier heat exchangers. Furthermore, almost all components would need to be redesigned to meet the specifications, be it the thermostats, the pumps, valves, etc.

Even concerns for pedestrian safety, which have gained momentum around the world recently, especially in Europe would require the manufacturers to rethink not just the automobile's engine but other components within the hood as well. Experts opine that the automakers would need improve the performance density of the engines' cooling modules and achieve the same performance with smaller units.