Engine Cooling and

Heating Systems
 Engine Cooling
Process by which heat is removed
Radiation, convection and conduction
35% of total engine heat is removed by the
cooling system
 Cooling System Functions

Carries heat that is produced by the engine

combustion process away from the engine
Helps the engine to reach normal operating
temperature faster
Maintains a constant temperature throughout
the engine
 Cooling System Functions

Picks up engine heat through conduction

and carries it to the radiator where it is
released to the atmosphere through
convection
Keeps system under pressure to raise the
boiling point and prevent liquid lose from
evaporation
 Coolant Flow

Standard Flow
Coolant is drawn from the bottom of the
radiator into the engine
Flows through the water jackets in the block
and up to the cylinder head
Flows from the cylinder head out the
thermostat and back into the top of the
radiator
 Coolant Flow

Reverse Flow
Coolant is drawn from the bottom of the
radiator into the engine
The water pump directs coolant through the
water jackets in the cylinder head and down
into the block
Flows from the block out the thermostat and
back into the top of the radiator
Radiators
 Components

Tanks
Core
Fins
Oil Cooler
 Radiator
Construction
Tanks
Constructed from copper, brass, aluminum or
plastic
Collects the coolant and transfers it through
the tubes to be cooled
Receiving tank contains baffles to help direct
the coolant evenly over the tubes
May include an internal tank for automatic
transmission fluid cooling
 Radiator Construction

Core
Tubes or fins made of copper or aluminum
Fins are thin sheets of metal that are
soldered together to form channels for the
coolant to pass through between the tanks
Most are only a few thousandths of an inch
thick
 Radiator
Construction

Core (cont)
Tubes are either soldered or crimped to the
tank
The number of cores is equal to the rows of
tubes or fins
(2 core, 3 core, 4 core etc.)
 Radiator Construction

Fins
Increase air movement across the core to
remove heat faster from the tubes
Oil Cooler
Circulates hot transmission fluid through
tubes surrounded by cooler engine coolant
 Radiator Designs

Down-Flow
Coolant moves vertically through the tubes or
fins
Typical of standard-flow systems moving from
top to bottom
Based on the principle that heat rises pushing
hot coolant to the top and allowing cooler
fluid to flow to the bottom (early systems w/o
water pump)
 Radiator Designs

Cross-Flow
Coolant moves horizontally through the tubes
or fins
Common on late model vehicles in both
standard and reverse-flow systems
Works well w/ modern low hood designs
More efficient cooling due to longer tubes
(allows air movement over the tubes for a
longer period of time)
Coolant Flow
Radiators
 Radiator Failure

Leaks in the core from physical abuse

 Radiator Failure

Leaks in the core

from corrosion or
electrolysis
 Radiator Failure

Leaks between the core and the tank

 Radiator Failure

Cracked
or
damaged
tank
 Radiator Failure

Leaking transmission cooler inside the

tank
 Radiator Failure

Damaged Fins
 Radiator Failure

Plugged fins
from foreign
media
 Radiator Failure

Plugged tubes from

corrosion build-up
Pressurized Cooling System

Maintained by cap
Pressure is determined by the cap’s rating
15-17 psi gasoline engine
7 psi diesel
Excess pressure is allowed to enter the
recovery (overflow) tank
During cool down
Vacuum created in the radiator
Valve in the cap allows coolant to flow back
from the recovery tank
Radiator Cap
A
Pressure
Release
B
Vacuum
Cool-down
 Coolant Recovery System

Recovery/overflow tank
Under atmospheric pressure
Stores expanded hot fluid
Releases stored fluid back into the radiator during
vacuum cool down
Coolant Recovery System

Expansion tank
Sealed and
pressurized with the
pressure cap
Purges air from the
cooling system
May have a bleeder
valve
Coolant Recovery System

Air Bleed
Located in a high
part of the cooling
system
Used to purge air
from the system
when filling w/ new
coolant
 Radiator Service
Visually inspect for leaks and external damage
of radiator and recovery tank
Visually inspect for corrosion build-up in
radiator core
Pressure test to check for leaks
 Radiator Service

Pressure test and inspect cap

Inspect sealing surface of cap on the radiator
neck for nicks or damage
A failed cap can cause lose of coolant,
overheating, collapsed hoses and component
failure due to excessive pressure build-up
 Radiator Service

Inspect shroud for damage and proper

mounting
A fan shroud can increase cooling by 30%
A failed or improperly mounted fan shroud
can cause overheating and/or damage to the
radiator core
Radiator Service

System Bleeding
All air must be bled from the system after
refilling with coolant
Many systems include an air bleed
May have to loosen a hose at the highest
point in the system to release all the air
(heater hose)