Volume 7, Issue 11, November – 2022 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Car Cooling System

INSTRUCTOR Name: FAISAL M E DH ALDHAHI
College of Technological Studies
PAAET, Kuwait

Abstract:- A vehicle's cooling system is responsible for I. INTRODUCTION

maintaining an optimal operating temperature in the
engine. System components include the radiator, water The engine cooling system is responsible for regulating
pump, thermostat, and ventilation fans. A coolant the temperature of the engine. This is achieved by directing
Recovering Tank is a reservoir that stores extra fluid in the engine's heat away from the environment via the fins. This
the event of an engine overheating. The coolant should be mechanism ensures that the engine reaches operating
at the "cold" mark when the engine is cold. Adding an temperature as rapidly as possible and stays there, improving
expansion tank to a standard radiator only requires a the vehicle's performance (E.I. du Pont de Nemours &
little increase in total coolant volume. Company. Automotive Products Department, 1971). It is
crucial to maintain the greatest possible engine temperature
High-quality radiator hoses need to be regularly at all times and in all situations. The combustion of gasoline
inspected and maintained. Extreme heat causes the in the engine produces heat. To prevent damage to the
rubber in the hoses to harden and fracture. Core plugs are engine's components, some of the heat must be dissipated.
used to fill the holes created during production. They are This is one of the functions of the air conditioner. More fuel
spherical pieces of metal sheeting with holes in the center. will be used if the engine is kept at a low temperature, and it
When the heater core fails, the rest of the cooling system will overheat if left in a high-temperature environment for too
can't function properly. long.

The gearbox cooler acts similarly to an internal  Aim:

radiator, only it transfers heat to the radiator's coolant This article aims to provide information on the car
rather than the surrounding air. The fan will be installed cooling system and to highlight the importance of keeping it
in the space between the radiator and the motor to ensure in good working order.
optimal cooling airflow for a vehicle's engine. Engine
water pumps are susceptible to cavitation, which II. CONTENT
increases the likelihood that air bubbles may enter the
antifreeze. Cavitation is less likely to occur in a well- A vehicle's cooling system is responsible for
designed engine cooling system as the coolant maintaining an optimal operating temperature in the engine.
temperature decreases. System components include the radiator, water pump,
thermostat, and ventilation fans. The radiator is a big metal
The thermostat prevents unnecessary engine wear tank used to store the coolant (water and antifreeze). Coolant
and emissions by facilitating a rapid warm-up. The is circulated through the engine by the water pump, and the
thermostat's primary function is to allow the engine to thermostat regulates how much coolant is introduced into the
reach operating temperature rapidly and maintain that engine. The radiator's temperature may be regulated with the
temperature. The opening temperature for most aid of the car's computer, which also regulates the cooling
thermostats is 180 degrees Fahrenheit or 82 degrees fans (Selection and use of engine coolants and cooling system
Celsius. Overheating may result if the airflow is blocked, chemicals, 2019).
as in this scenario. The efficiency of a car's engine depends
heavily on its cooling system.

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Volume 7, Issue 11, November – 2022 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165

Fig 1 potential malfunction places in car cooling system

 Coolant Recovering Tank Adding an expansion tank to a standard radiator only requires
Often referred to as an "overflow reservoir," the coolant a little increase in total coolant volume. If adding this little bit
recovery tank is a reservoir that stores extra fluid in the event of coolant is all that's needed to cool down a hot engine, then
of a radiator overflow. Tanks may be set up to automatically there must be another issue with the cooling system.
replenish the radiator whenever the engine cools down so that
it is constantly at the optimal temperature. The coolant  Cooling Fan
expands as the engine temperature rises because it, too, is Only when the engine temperature reaches a specified
heating up. When the temperature increases, so do the threshold or the cooling system is put under increased strain
pressure. The radiator's fill hole is kept shut by a spring inside is the cooling fan activated (as when running your air
the pressure cap. A pressure of around 15 psi will overcome conditioner). Since leaving the fan on all the time is a waste
the tension of the spring and cause the cap to rise. The top of of energy, it is turned off when it is not in use. Most modern
the tube becomes visible as the cover is raised. The coolant is rear-wheel drive cars and newer front-wheel drive vehicles
forced through the tube and into the recovery tank under with transversely placed engines rely on electric cooling fans.
pressure. Electric fans are used in FWD vehicles because they are not
dependent on a belt drive and may be installed independently
The procedure is reversed as soon as the engine cools of the engine's location. Electric fans have several advantages
down. To reverse the usual process of coolant being sucked over their mechanical counterparts, including increased
out of the radiator at high pressure, a vacuum is used instead. efficiency, less noise, and finer temperature regulation.
This ensures that the engine always has the correct amount of
coolant ("Engine cooling system: How it works and main  Hoses
components," 2022). It is possible to inspect the coolant level Properly sized, high-quality radiator hoses should be
in the recovery tank with a dipstick. The dipstick works just regularly inspected and maintained. The upper and lower
as well with cold as it does with hot liquids. The coolant radiator hoses need to be large enough to accommodate the
should be at the "cold" mark when the engine is cold. You maximum flow of coolant when the thermostat is completely
should fill it up to the "hot" line when the engine is running. open. Smaller hoses connected to the heater core carry some
of the coolants to and from the core. The hoses in such
The pressure cap on the recovery tank will release any systems must be constructed from materials that can
surplus coolant from the system. In the event of an internal withstand extreme heat and pressure. As part of any cooling
pressure build-up in the radiator and recovery tank, the system maintenance, you should inspect the hoses for wear
coolant will expand, forcing the cap open. Using a catch basin and tear. Extreme heat in the engine compartment causes the
instead of a sewer is more eco-friendly ("Most common car rubber in the hoses to harden and fracture.
cooling system problems," 2021). It prevents water from
spilling out of the radiator if it is overfilled by a small amount.

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Volume 7, Issue 11, November – 2022 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
 Core plugs it transfers heat to the radiator's coolant rather than the
Core plugs are used to fill the holes created during surrounding air.
production. The plugs are spherical pieces of metal sheeting
with holes in the center that are forced into the water jackets  Radiator fan
on the side of the engine block. These plugs might leak or By forcing air into the radiator's tubes, the fan helps to
come loose if the morning cooling system freezes up or is not reduce the temperature of the hot coolant that runs through it.
properly maintained. The core plugs are designed to dislodge There are often four or more blades on the fan, and their rapid
in the event of a frozen block. rotation cools the engine. The fan will be installed in the space
between the radiator and the motor to ensure optimal cooling
At first, it was believed that these plugs served to release airflow. Vehicles with an additional fan in front of the radiator
pressure on the block, so preventing it from splitting. For this may draw even more chilly air into the motor. Whenever the
reason, they are sometimes commonly referred to as "frozen vehicle's speed is low enough that the engine isn't being
plugs," although this is technically inaccurate. adequately cooled by the flow of cold air via the radiator, this
feature comes in handy.
 Heater core
Since the heater core is more commonly associated with III. PRESSURE CAP
the heating system, you might be surprised to learn that it is
also a part of the cooling system. However, the heater core The pressure cap, or radiator cap, increases the boiling
can only communicate with the cooling system through the point of your coolant by around 25 degrees Celsius. The cap
heating hoses. When the heater core fails, the rest of the has a pressure release valve that is typically set at 15 psi.
cooling system can't function properly. The heater's core Under pressure, the boiling point of the coolant will increase.
serves as a heat exchanger and is constructed in a manner Because of the engine's continued operation, the temperature
analogous to that of a radiator. and pressure in the cooling system will rise. Only the pressure
cap allows the pressure to escape. As a result, the position of
It is housed in a housing unit that can be located on the the cap's spring determines the system's maximum operating
engine cover or in the trunk. The fins of the heater core can pressure.
absorb heat from the circulating heated coolant because of
their unique design. Simultaneously, the air is blasted over the When the pressure reaches 15 psi, the valve opens,
core's heated fins by a blower motor. Air is forced over the releasing the coolant. From the overflow tube, the coolant
fins, where it absorbs heat, and the resulting warmth is drops to the base of the overflow tank. Air can't enter the
distributed throughout the cabin. system with this configuration. When the radiator cools, a
vacuum is created, which triggers a spring-loaded valve to
 Radiator open and draw water from the overflow tank's bottom into the
A radiator is a heat exchanger. Its purpose is to transfer radiator to replace the water that was previously pushed out.
heat from the hot coolant that runs through it to the air that is
blown through it by a fan. Aluminum radiators are standard  Water pump
in current automobiles. These radiators are made by brazing The sole purpose of the water pump is to circulate the
thin strips of aluminum into flattened tubes of metal. To coolant in the engine's cooling system. This implies that the
transport the coolant from the intake to the outlet, a series of coolant enters the system at the lowest pressure point and
parallel tubes must be built up. The fins in a radiator transfer exits at the highest pressure point. When the water engines
the heat from the tubes to the air passing over them. are running, the pressure decreases dramatically at the pump's
input and exit. This pressure change is proportional to the
A turbulator is a fin that may be installed in the tubes to angular velocity. The water pump uses centrifugal force to
increase the amount of airflow. The result is a more agitated circulate the cooling liquid. It has a spherical chamber with
flow of fluid through the conduits. Only the fluid immediately curved inlets and outputs and an impeller in the style of a fan.
touching the tubes would be cooled if the fluid passed through This space is known as a "scroll" because of the sloping walls.
the tubes at an extremely low resistance. The rate of heat The centrifugal design causes the engine to rev higher when
transfer from the fluid in the tubes to the tubes is proportional the coolant temperature rises.
to the temperature difference between the tube and the fluid.
Therefore, if the fluid touching the tube cools down rapidly, Engine water pumps are susceptible to cavitation, which
heat transmission will be reduced. The turbulence created increases the likelihood that air bubbles may enter the
within the tube ensures that all of the fluid is thoroughly antifreeze and reduce the performance, reliability, and
combined. The fluid in contact with the tubes remains at a longevity of the engine. To cavitate means to create bubbles
high temperature, allowing for more efficient heat removal or holes in the fluid being pushed. These flaws manifest on
and full use of the fluid within the tubes. the suction side of the pump, the low-pressure side.
Cavitation is less likely to occur in a well-designed engine
A transmission cooler is housed in the tank on either side cooling system as the coolant temperature decreases. The
of the radiator, which is standard. You can see the entry and cooling system fails, however, once the cavitation
exit points for the transmission oil cooler in the image above. temperature is achieved and the water pumps lose pressure.
The gearbox cooler acts similarly to an internal radiator, only

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Volume 7, Issue 11, November – 2022 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
IV. THERMOSTAT it by the cooling system. Through the radiator hose, it will
transfer excess heat from the engine to the cooling system.
Between the engine and the radiator in each vehicle with Since water freezes at temperatures below 0 °C, it cannot be
a liquid-cooled engine is a little component called the used as liquid cooling ("How car cooling systems work,"
thermostat. The thermostat on a typical automobile is roughly 2000). Overheating may result if the airflow is blocked, as in
2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. When the engine is cold, it this scenario. When the water freezes, it expands by 9 percent,
prevents the coolant from flowing to the radiator. No coolant cracking the radiator and shattering the cylinder block and
is sent through the engine when it is cold. When the engine head. A more adaptable cooling system regulation can reduce
achieves its optimal working temperature—typically fuel consumption in spark ignition (SI) engines.
approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit—the thermostat opens
(95 degrees C) (Kershaw, 2019). The thermostat prevents The temperature of the coolant and the temperature of
unnecessary engine wear, deposits, and emissions by the air coming into the engine are two of the essential aspects
facilitating a rapid warm-up. The valve magically opens in minimizing pollution and ensuring a trouble-free engine
approximately an inch as it heats up. If you want to give it a operation, as has been learned through studies on cold starts.
go yourself, you can pick one up for a few bucks at any auto For the cold start tests, coolant temperatures of 15 and 80
parts store. The thermostat's tiny cylinder on the side that degrees Celsius were used. The piston surface temperature
faces the engine is the most important part of the device. increased to 110 degrees Celsius and then to 150 degrees
There is wax in this cylinder, and it might melt if the Celsius when the engine started operating. The increase in
temperature gets above 180 degrees Fahrenheit. The opening coolant temperature resulted in a 25% decrease in HC
temperature for most thermostats is 180 degrees Fahrenheit emissions and a 7% increase in NOx emissions ("Engine
or 82 degrees Celsius. cooling system: How it works and main components," 2022).
It appears to demonstrate, via the temperature of the cylinder
The thermostat's primary function is to allow the engine walls, that there is a connection between the coolant
to reach operating temperature rapidly and maintain that temperature and the emissions.
temperature. Water pressure in the radiator is adjusted to
adjust this. When the water jackets begin to warm, the coolant To enhance fuel economy, modifications to the engine
in the cooling system goes to work. Hot coolant flows out of cooling system generally reduce frictional losses in the engine
the engine and into the radiator or a bypass tunnel due to a when the oil temperature rises. This is achieved by gradually
pressure differential in the coolant circuit. The thermostat increasing the coolant temperature, which in turn increases
begins to open when the coolant hits 80 degrees Celsius. To the engine's working temperature. When the temperature of
allow fluid to flow through the radiator, various thermostats an engine is raised, both hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon
must be set to open at specific temperatures. monoxide (CO) emissions decrease. A higher cylinder block
temperature is said to reduce friction between the piston and
V. COOLANT ring pack, leading to improved fuel efficiency. The quantity
of nitrogen oxide (NOx) produced in the combustion
The coolant used in the cooling system is made by chamber, however, can be extremely temperature-sensitive,
combining antifreeze and water. The most widely used de- especially at higher working temperatures ("Automobile -
icer is ethylene glycol. This liquid will be circulated through Cooling system," 2020).

Fig 2 A picture of car cooling system (top view)

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ISSN No:-2456-2165
VI. CONCLUSION REFERENCES

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for, and damaged ones fixed or replaced.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the coolant level in a vehicle be

checked regularly and maintained at the correct level.
Additionally, the coolant in the system should be cleaned and
replaced every two years. This ensures that the engine will be
adequately cooled by the coolant and prevents rust and
corrosion from forming in the system.

When inspecting the cooling system, make sure the

coolant level is at an appropriate level. Correct coolant levels
are essential. Both too little and too much would be
undesirable. The engine might overheat if the coolant level is
too low. An overheated engine can be severely damaged. The
coolant should be inspected to ensure it is in good working
order. A clean, debris-free coolant is essential. Overheating
might result from contaminated coolant because of a clogged
radiator.

Using a compatible coolant is crucial for cleansing the

cooling system. The vehicle may be damaged if improper
coolant is used. Furthermore, be sure you use the correct
amount of coolant by reading the label carefully.

The cooling system must be refilled with fresh coolant

after being flushed. You want to make sure the coolant level
isn't too low or too high. The engine might overheat if the
coolant level is too low. An overheated engine might be
severely damaged.

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