Heating and Cooling System
Heating and Cooling System Components
A vehicle heating and cooling system is comprised of the following elements at a minimum:
(Please note that heating and cooling systems may vary wildly based on the age and make of the
vehicle.)
The Minimal System
- Radiator
- While most frequently located at the front of the vehicle, the radiator (or radiators) may
be located anywhere on the vehicle where there is enough airflow to ensure the cooling of the vehicle.
(note, these are not present in air cooled vehicles such as old VWs, Porsche 911's and the like.)
- Radator Fan
- This fan is used to draw air across the radiator in an effort to cool the antifreeze mixture it holds.
Radiator fans may be mechanical (run off a pulley attached to the motor) or electrical.
- Radiator Hoses
- There are two primary radiator hoses that run from the Radiator to the engine. Generally one is
located at the top of the radiator and the other at the bottom. The radiator hoses allow the coolant
mixture to travel from the radiator to the engine
- Thermostat
- The thermostat controls the ability for coolant to flow from the engine to the radiator. It's
function is based around ensuring that the engine temperature is at the optimal level. Thermostats
are mechanical items that open and shut based on the temperature of the coolant at the engine.
Frequently you'll find the thermostat on the engine block where the radiator hose connects.
- Water Pump
- The water pump may be either a mechanical or an electric unit. The water pump is used to create flow
in the coolant, ciculating the fluid from the engine into the radiator and then back again into the engine.
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The extended system
- Heater Core
- The heater core is similar in design to the radiator. The intent of the heater core is also to disperse
engine heat. The difference is that the heat dispersed is used to warm the vehicle cabin. (Side note, if you
ever have over heating problems, one thing that may save you is immediately turning your heater on full bore.
That additional heat loss will help to keep the engine from overheating, at least until you can safely stop
the car.)
- Heater Core Hoses
- These hoses connect the engine block to the heater core.
- Blower motor
- The blower motor is a fan system used to push air across the heater core and out into the cabin of the
vehicle. It is activated when the heater is turned on.
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How it works
When you start the vehicle, the cooling system is full of coolant. Generally speaking it's a mix of anti-freeze
and water. The water pump engages and starts to spin putting pressure into the system. As the motor warms up, so does
the coolant that's contained in the water passages inside of the engine block. The thermostat remains closed keeping
the fluid from flowing through the system. When the coolant in the engine block reaches the appropriate temperature
it causes the thermostat to open, allowing the fluid to move into the radiator. As fluid gets pushed to the radiator,
additional fluid is pulled from the opposite end of the radiator into the block, thus dropping the overall engine block
temperature. When that cooler fluid hits the thermostat it then closes again until the fresh batch of coolant reaches
a temperature hugh enough to open it again. From here the system continually repeats this process in an effort to maintain
the optimal temperature in the engine.
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