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Content
1. Function of the cooling system – this is how heat is dissipated from the engine
2. Engine cooling in different driving situations
3. Air cooling versus water cooling
4. Overview of essential engine cooling components
Combustion engines not only generate energy in the form of drive energy during operation, but also a lot of heat. This must be dissipated by cooling so that engine components are not damaged by overheating. In addition, the cooling system enables the engine to operate in the optimum temperature range, thus ensuring low emissions. You can find all important information on engine cooling here.
To ensure effective cooling, every modern combustion engine is equipped with a cooling system for the engine. This is almost always a water cooling system. Cooling water is directed through fine channels through the engine block and cylinder head to carry heat away from the engine and lower the engine temperature. After the coolant in the radiator has cooled down, it is returned to the engine.
The cooling system in the car works differently depending on the driving situation, and adjusts the cooling capacity accordingly. This makes it possible to always run the engine at the optimum operating temperature. When driving fast on country roads or on the motorway, a lot of air gets into the radiator in the front of the vehicle. Sometimes this air flow is already sufficient to be able to dissipate the heat.
If, on the other hand, the vehicle is stuck in a traffic jam or in stop-and-go traffic, an additional fan ensures that enough air can flow through the radiator. The same applies whenever a particularly large amount of heat needs to be dissipated from the engine. This can be the case in summer, for example, when temperatures rise outside. The engine temperature can also rise unusually when driving uphill.
If, on the other hand, the temperature outside the vehicle is particularly low, for example in winter, the fan is not used. The cooling circuit to the radiator is also only activated when the engine has reached its operating temperature. If the engine overheats unexpectedly, it can be helpful to switch on the heating in the car and open the windows. In this way, further heat is dissipated via the heater’s heat exchanger.
In addition to engine cooling by means of a cooling circuit, cooling can also be realised by means of air. Probably the best-known car with air cooling is the Volkswagen Beetle. Porsche also continued to use this type of engine cooling for a long time with the 911 model. Cooling by means of air flow has several advantages over engine cooling with coolant. Among other things, considerably fewer components are needed than with liquid cooling.
In vehicles with air cooling, the ambient air is drawn in by a mechanically driven cooling fan and directed over the engine components to be cooled. To enable better heat transfer, engine housings, cylinders or cylinder heads are provided with cooling fins.
Essential components of the water cooling system such as the radiator, water pump and radiator hoses are omitted in air-cooled engines. Consequently, these components cannot wear out or break down. Since there is no cooling water, the water cannot freeze either. However, air cooling is less effective than engine cooling by means of coolant. Engines with low emissions can therefore only be realised with liquid cooling.
If there are problems with the engine cooling, defective components are almost always the cause. Often there is a leak in the cooling system from which coolant is escaping. The radiator hoses, the radiator itself or the water pump may be leaking. The result is an insufficient coolant level.
If the cooling water temperature rises sharply, a defective thermostat or a broken radiator fan are possible causes. If the engine is slow to reach operating temperature, the thermostat may be stuck. A defective cylinder head gasket can also be responsible for the loss of cooling water if the water enters the combustion chamber.
Numerous parts of the engine cooling system such as the radiator, fan, expansion tank or radiator hoses are easy to replace. For the water pump, the effort depends on the installation position and drive. It is important to bleed the cooling circuit after replacing parts and to top up the coolant accordingly. Original components are particularly precise and can be easily selected and bought used at Autoparts24.
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