Radiator
The radiator
plays a critical function in all internal combustion engines as it help
keeps a vehicle from overheating.
It is connected
to several channels running through the engine and cylinder head, through
which is pumped a liquid which is usually a mixture of water with ethylene
glycol (antifreeze). The liquid then flows through a thermostat and
back again to the radiator.
As such, heat is
conducted away from the engine parts, making the vehicle safe from overheating.
To keep the radiator, the fluid inside, and the engine in peak conditions,
the radiator is typically mounted behind the vehicle's grille, as cold
air is driven through it.
There is also a
system of valves installed to simultaneously operate a small radiator
called the heater core inside the car. This small radiator serves to
warm the vehicle's interior cabin. A device located between the engine
and the radiator called the thermostat is another key component of a
vehicle's cooling system.
The thermostat remains
closed and restricts coolant flow until the engine reaches the thermostat's
activation temperature. This enables the engine temperature to remain
in the ideal operating range. The thermostat closes and allows heat
to build up in the engine when the engine gets too cold and it opens
and allows heat to be removed by the radiator when the engine becomes
too warm.
The invention of
the radiator is widely attributed to Karl Benz. Nowadays, some engines
have an additional oil cooler which is a separate small radiator to
cool the motor oil while most turbo-charged engines may even have an
intercooler.
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