A Quick Course On Your Vehicle’s Cooling System

When you lift the hood of your car and examine the engine, the assembly appears sturdy. It looks solid and able to withstand plenty of punishment during operation. While it can operate under load and endure a degree of stress, the engine is very susceptible to heat. This poses a challenge

While you’re driving, your engine undergoes its 4-stroke combustion process. Part of this process is the ignition stroke during which the air-fuel mixture within the cylinders is ignited by the spark plug. This stroke causes a small explosion within the cylinders. At 65 mph, the assembly endures thousands of explosions each minute. This creates heat. Unless it is controlled, the heat will destroy your engine. Controlling heat is the main responsibility of your vehicle’s cooling system.

We’ll take a closer look at this system below. I’ll provide a brief overview that explains its operation and describe some of the components involved. You’ll also learn how to keep the system well-maintained so it can perform its job.

An Overview Of The Cooling System’s Operation

A generation ago, most vehicles were built with cooling systems that operated on air. Today, most operate on liquid – specifically, coolant. Coolant circulates through several components under the hood, and thus controls the temperature surrounding the engine.

The fluid circulates through small corridors built into the engine block and cylinder head. As it flows through these corridors, it absorbs heat that is generated from the 4-stroke combustion process. Once heated, the coolant travels to your radiator where it is cooled by air. The air comes in via the front of your vehicle (technically, the grill) and blows across the surface of the radiator. Once the temperature of the coolant drops, it leaves the radiator and travels back to the engine. The fluid’s circulation is driven by a water pump.

Key Parts Of The System

As the description above implies, the heart of the cooling system is the radiator. It is located near the front of your vehicle (near the grill) and is designed with a series of fins that allow heat to dissipate from the coolant. On the back of the radiator are fans (usually two of them). These are designed to keep air moving across the radiator while you’re driving. Without them, the temperature of the coolant would climb and eventually make the entire system ineffective.

The water pump has a simple, but important, job: to keep the coolant circulating while your engine is in operation. You’ll find it attached near the front of the assembly and powered by the serpentine belt.

Your cooling system also includes a thermostat. It is responsible for monitoring the temperature of the coolant, and directing it accordingly. If the fluid is sufficiently heated, the thermostat allows it to travel into the radiator for cooling. Otherwise, the fluid is redirected to the engine in order to absorb more heat.

Making Sure The System Remains In Good Condition

The most common problems that occur with the cooling system involve deteriorated hoses, a broken serpentine belt, a failing radiator cap, and a failing water pump. Check the hoses on a regular basis. They’re made of rubber, which is susceptible to heat. Examine them for cracks and other signs of aging.

Also, check the condition of your serpentine – or timing – belt. If it breaks, the water pump will stop working, which stops the circulation of the coolant.

The radiator cap is responsible for maintaining a certain level of pressure within the cooling system. When excess pressure builds, the cap allows it to bleed. If the cap malfunctions, pressure will continue to build until heat causes your engine to seize. For this reason, get into the habit of pressure testing the cap periodically.

Most people realize their engine can overheat if the temperature surrounding it rises beyond a certain point. Few people, however, take the time to maintain their car’s cooling system. A routine check every few weeks will help prevent it – and your engine – from failing.

Accessories For Your Car

Related posts

• Your Car’s Distributor: What It Does And How It Works (0)
• Troubleshooting Your Car When Smoke Pours From The Tailpipe (0)
• The Importance of the Car Manual (0)
• Safety Precautions When Working on Your Own Vehicle (0)
• Is It Okay To Use Water Instead Of Coolant? (0)

Your Car’s Distributor: What It Does And How It Works

Your engine’s combustion process relies upon a spark plug that sits atop each cylinder’s combustion chamber. It generates a spark which causes the compressed air-fuel mix within the chamber to ignite. The voltage behind that spark is pulled from your battery and gathered by your ignition coil. A component called the distributor regulates the timing behind the coil’s firing.

Below, we’ll explore your vehicle’s distributor and the manner in which it fulfills its responsibility. I’ll explain how its operation is critical to your car’s electronic ignition system. I’ll also describe the factors that can cause wear and tear, and what to do when the part needs to be replaced.

Timing The Distribution Of Sparks

The distributor consists of a cap and rotor. Both play important roles in sending the voltage from your ignition coil to each of your spark plugs. The rotor is connected to the ignition coil and spins within the cap. Each of your engine’s cylinders has a contact point within the cap. As the rotor spins, its tip passes near the contact points, triggering a high-voltage release from the coil with each pass.

The voltage output travels from the ignition coil to the distributor and onward through the spark plug wire attached to the contact point. From there, it travels to the spark plug that sits atop the cylinder’s combustion chamber.

What Causes Wear And Tear?

Most problems that form with your distributor are caused when the contact points inside the cap become worn. When this happens, it’s best to replace the cap and rotor. That ensures the contact points will remain clean and the transfer of voltage to the spark plugs remains unhindered.

One of the most common reasons the contact points become worn is due to the oil not being changed frequently enough. This can lead to erratic firing of the spark plugs which can eventually cause lower fuel efficiency, rough idling, and stalling.

When The Component Needs To Be Replaced

If funds are limited, you can purchase a remanufactured distributor (along with the cap and rotor) from an auto parts shop. Or, you can buy a replacement from a salvage yard. However, given the fact that these parts are inexpensive and extremely important to the performance of your car’s engine, you should buy an OEM replacement whenever possible. That way, you can have confidence in the quality of the component you’re purchasing.

With regard to installing the replacement, you should rely on the experience and expertise of a trained mechanic. The component’s ignition position needs to be aligned correctly to ensure proper timing of the coil’s firing. Moreover, the vacuum advance needs to be positioned correctly. Plus, once the new distributor has been installed, you’ll need to make slight adjustments to the timing to help manage emissions. This is a job that is best left to your auto technician.

Accessories For Your Car

Related posts

• The Importance of the Car Manual (0)
• Is It Okay To Use Water Instead Of Coolant? (0)
• How to Check Tire Pressure (0)
• Why You Should Regularly Check Your Tire Pressure (0)
• When The Treads On Your Car’s Tires Wear Down (0)