Understanding Your Cooling System 

Understanding Your Cooling System

When we drive down the freeway, we were probably not aware that the heat being dissipated by our vehicle is enough to heat two average-sized houses! It is in this regard that the the cooling system plays an important role, by keeping the engine from overheating.

The cooling system is required to prevent the internal engine parts from melting from the heat of the burning fuel, thus literally keeping the engine from turning into a melted steel. Another important function of the cooling system is to allow the engine heat up as quickly as possible, and to keep the engine at a constant speed. Imagine having a less efficient engine that also emits pollution due to cooling system problems.



To better understand how the cooling system works, let us take a closer look at its main components:

• Radiator - Cools off the anti-freeze/coolant mixture by allowing air passing through the tube/fin area to dissipate the heat generated by the engine.

• Water pump - Draws the cooled anti-freeze from the radiator and pumps it through the engine block, cylinder head(s), heater core and back to the radiator.

• Freeze plugs - Is actually a steel plug designed to seal holes in the engine block and cylinder head(s) created from the casting process. In freezing weather they may push out if there is not enough anti-freeze protection.

• Heater core - Provides heat to the interior of the car by using heat removed from the antifreeze and blown in by the blower motor. May cause steam, odor or actual dripping inside the car when it leaks.

• Head gasket - Seals the major parts of the engine. Prevents oil, anti-freeze and cylinder pressure from mixing together.

• Thermostat - Controls the minimum operating temperature of the engine. The thermostat is closed when the engine is cold in order to speed warm-up and opens when normal operating temperature is reached to allow the anti-freeze / coolant to pass through the radiator.

• Hoses - (Radiator, Heater, By-pass): Connect the other main components of the cooling system.

• Fan clutch - temperature of the air coming through the radiator and either slips or binds up to pull the required amount of air through the radiator.

• Electric cooling fan - It is turned on by a system of sensors and relays when the engine reaches about 230° F and stays on until R is cooled to about 200° F.


Just as we properly maintain our electrical system, exhaust system, and other automotive systems, it is also beneficial for us to ensure that our cooling system is functioning well. Auto Parts Inner provides us not just important information on the various components that comprises our autos but also a wide array of high qualit auto parts. Having a dependable car and sufficient knowledge to its components definitely ensures a safe and fun driving experience.