When it comes to understanding the parts of your car, the radiator is something that is quite misunderstood. Though a car radiator is an invaluable part of a car's cooling system, many people still assume it’s functions similarly to a home radiator. While the purpose of the latter is to warm the nearby surroundings of the house, the former reduces the heat generated in the car. This, in turn, reduces the possibility of any damage happening because of overheating of the engine. Read on with us to know more about how a radiator works exactly.
What is a radiator?
If we try to understand in layman terms a car radiator is actually like a heat exchanger. Construction of a radiator is done in such a manner that it is able to transfer all the heat from the coolant inside it to the air which is blown by the fan. Most present day cars use aluminum radiators. These are made when you attach thin aluminum fins to flat aluminum tubes.
The car radiator consists of parallel tubes - the coolant flows from the inlet to the outlet with the help of these tubes. The fins then conduct all the heat inside the tubes and move it to the air flowing through the radiator.
Construction of a radiator
An automobile car radiator is constructed using two header tanks, which are linked to a core. It is this core which has narrow passageways which provide it a high surface area in comparison to its volume. The core is made of layers of metal sheet which are soldered together in a manner that makes it appear like a channel.
In earlier times, brass and copper cores were used and they were brazed to brass headers. However, with technological advancement, modern radiators are coming with aluminum cores. Accompanying them are plastic headers which are used to reduce the cost and the weight of the radiator.
Another construction method of a car radiator was that built with a honeycomb design. There were round tubes which had hexagon shapes at their ends and were bundled together to give a honeycomb look. Since the design only touched the ends the radiator works like a water tank with multiple tubes inside it.
Essential parts of a car radiator
- Inlet and outlet
- Two Tanks
- Connecting tubes
- Tubes in between the Fins
- Radiator Hoses
- Water pump
- Coolant Liquid
- Thermostat
- Electric cooling fan
- Thermo time switch
The working principle of a radiator
A car radiator is needed to keep the temperature of your car's engine at an optimum level. In other words, they also cooling devices which bring down the heat level in the car.
- The radiator construction includes a pumping system which is present in the radiator and pushes the coolant towards the car engine.
- When the engine is working a lot of heat is produced which needs to be absorbed. The coolant present does so and hence bring the temperature down. The coolant, which has by now become hot, moves back to the radiator.
- When the hot coolant reaches the radiator it moves around through the different tubes or pipes present in the radiator.
- The air around the radiator now cools down the heated coolant by absorbing the heat in it.
- This procedure keeps on repeating as long as the vehicle is moving.
- If the radiator of the car is non -operational or defective the engine would stop working as it would get overheated.
Tips to maintain a healthy radiator
The importance of having a properly functioning car radiator cannot be denied. Here are some tips that you can follow to improve you radiator's function:
- Keep your radiator fluid or coolant level at high at all the times. You can either mix it with water or buy a watered down version from any local auto supply shop.
- You should keep your radiator cap tight at all times. This takes care that the pressure inside the coolant chamber is properly maintained at its ideal level.
- Whenever you visit your garage for repair, make sure to get your radiator cleaned. This activity can be performed a couple of times a year.
- Ask your trusted technician to flush out your radiator as and when you feel and see any signs of visible wear and tear. If you cannot get it done regularly at least make it an annual practice.
Signs that radiator needs to be replaced
As mentioned before, a properly functioning car radiator is necessary to ensure the safety of your car engine. When we feel that the radiator is showing signs of any damage we resort to simple methods like using duct tape or sealing the leakage. However, this is quite impractical as such faults cannot be fixed for a long time.
Here are the signs that show that it is the right time to replace your car radiator.
- Visible signs of corrosion
- Leakage or breakage in the coolant tanks
- Any internal leak caused by the transmission fluid cooler present
- Leaking or clogged radiator core
- Steam rising from the hood
- A visible and sudden rise in the temperature of the car engine
- Presence of rust on the exterior surface of the radiator
- Finding a brown mess inside the coolant tank
Conclusion
A car radiator is an important part of your vehicle and it has to be treated so. If you notice the signs mentioned above in your car, you should replace your radiator. RadiatorNow is an independent distributor that sells radiators for different types of vehicles. Check out our quick search tool to find your replacement radiator!
