Category: 
June 28, 2009
Every minute you’re driving, your vehicle’s engine goes through its combustion process thousands of times. As it does, it produces intense heat. Nearly half of that heat leaves through the tailpipe and dissipates in the air. The other half must be absorbed by the auto parts that comprise your engine. That includes the pistons, the cylinder heads and other car part components.
On their own, these parts cannot withstand the high temperatures generated by combustion; they would start to malfunction and eventually fail completely. Luckily, your car has a cooling system. It is specifically designed to help these components soak up the excess heat without their being destroyed in the process.
Below, I’ll give you a brief overview of the three main car parts that make up your vehicle’s cooling system. I’ll explain the job they do and how they help ensure your engine doesn’t overheat.
#1 - Water Pump
The “secret” behind your cooling system’s effectiveness is the coolant. It circulates throughout the engine and surrounding components, absorbing much of the excess heat along the way. Then, it travels into the radiator which is cooled by constant airflow.
For it to circulate, the coolant has to be pumped along the route. This is the job of the water pump. It’s powered by your car’s timing belt, though older models might have a flat belt that powers the pump. If the timing belt breaks, it cannot operate the water pump, which will ultimately prevent the coolant from circulating and absorbing the heat.
#2 - Plumbing
By plumbing, I’m referring to the auto parts through which the coolant travels. That includes a network of hoses, valves, and the radiator. This includes the heater core, but that is not a significant part of this dialog. We’re mainly concerned with the hoses. Because the hot coolant travels through them continuously, they deteriorate quickly. It is wise to replace the hoses at least every three years for optimal performance. Every four months, you need to check them for fissures and cracks. The hoses are relatively inexpensive, so if you notice crack - even small ones - replace them.
#3 - Sensors And Thermostat
Your car’s cooling system is equipped with sensors, fans, and a thermostat to monitor and control the temperature around the engine. They work together as a team to help make sure the temperature does not exceed a certain limit. If any of these parts are damaged and fail, the engines temperature will increase higher than normal. When this occurs, your car’s performance will suffer and emissions will increase.
It is impossible to overstate the importance of your vehicle’s cooling system. When all the car parts are working in sync and perfectly, the engine will perform the combustions process without any problems. However, if the water pump, hoses or valves, or sensors or thermostat malfunction, your vehicle can overheat. And that can easily lead to expensive car engine damage.