Cars and Bikes

Vehicle cooling system works basically is simple: to absorb the heat produced by combustion chambers by circulating fluid inside the engine. After absorbed heat in the engine, the coolant fluid circulated to radiator for releasing heat and as result the coolant temperature goes down.

The cooling system parts and its potential problems.

• Radiator coolant. Water can act as coolant fluid, however the water boiling point is not to high compare to engine temperature, and in other hand, a poor quality water can produce rust inside cooling system. Normally, a modern car use a special coolant fluid, this fluid has higher boiling temperature and will not make rust or corrosion inside cooling system. Inspect the level of coolant fluid regularly. Replace the coolant fluid as required in your vehicle owner manual.
• Radiator. Is the place for the coolant fluid to release the heat. Most of modern car radiator made by aluminum. Clean the radiator surface regularly, especially after crossing a muddy road.
• Radiator Cap. Radiator cap act as a valve triggered by pressure, normally 0.7 or 0.9 bar. That mean the valve will open above the above pressure number and the fluid will flowing from radiator to the circulation reservoir. If you find the reservoir if full and the fluid is not back to the radiator when the engine is cold, that indicated the radiator cap not functioning normally.
• Radiator Fan / Cooling Fan. There are two types of radiator fan, first the electric powered fan, and the second is the engine powered fan. The electric fan controlled by thermoswitch, as a sensor of coolant fluid temperature. The engine powered fan normally equipped with viscous coupling. The engine powered fan it self is rarely broken, most of the time the problem came from the viscous coupling. Far the electric powered fan, the problem can be arise due to fan motor damage or the thermoswitch is not functioning.
• Water pump. To circulate the fluid from the radiator to the engine vice versa normally use an engine powered water pump. Some times the water pump seal worn and leaking, it will cause loosing fluid and engine temperature increase due to slow/less circulation or pressure build by the pump.
• Thermostat. Thermostat working as a one way valve that start opening in certain temperature (87 – 96 deg C). This part will keep the engine work in optimum temperature (not to low).
• Radiator hose. This hose connected the radiator and the engine. Usually there are two hoses, in and out from the radiator. The hose quality will decrease by time, become harder and at certain point will broken. Check your radiator hoses regularly, especially if your car have been use more than 3 years.
• Reserve Reservoir. Observed for leaking.
• Water Jacket. Water jacket is a small hole for circulating fluid around engine block.
• Cylinder head. The water jacket also goes through cylinder head. A leaking can be occur around the cylinder head gasket or in the wall of the cylinder head itself. This leaks could be triggered by overheat.
• Oil cooler. Automatic transmission car equipped with oil cooler. Some times this cooler is leaking and the oil mixed with water. It is a serious condition, the water can hammered the piston.