At the heart of the internal combustion system is fire. Consequently, from the very conception of the automobile and its internal combustion engine, engineers had to come up with ways to effectively cool a car’s engine, independent of the temperature of the surrounding environment.
Modern cooling systems work by forcing air through a reservoir of water known as the radiator. That water is them pumped in and around the engine, taking the heat that results from combustion away from the parts susceptible to heat through the water. That water is then cooled and the cycle continues.
However, water alone isn’t the best choice of fluids for the cooling system. For this reason, chemicals and additives have long been placed in the water to increase its ability to withstand temperature variations and improve its cooling effectiveness. One of the first substances added to water was alcohol. Unfortunately, when too much alcohol was used, the engines cooled effectively but had a tendency to catch on fire – which was somewhat counter-productive to the engineer’s goals. Next, the chemical derivatives of alcohol – specifically ethylene glycol and propylene glycol – were added. These compounds work almost identically to alcohol, but help to avoid that annoying “car engine blowing up and catching on fire” problem.
The cooling system of a car has two basic kinds of parts – simple and easily accessible parts, such as hoses, that can usually be inexpensively replaced by anyone who knows how to wield a screwdriver, and more complex and harder to access parts, such as the pump and the radiator, which can only be serviced and replaced by a knowledgeable mechanic with the appropriate tools. However, just because it costs more to replace the complex parts doesn’t mean that the simple parts are less important. The entire system must function as a whole to work effectively.
Frequent changes and flushing of the fluids is the key to maintaining your cooling system. You should have the cooling system flushed at least once every year, if not more frequently. Ideally, you should flush the cooling system before any large seasonal shift – such as the beginning of winter – as the chemicals that help cool the system also keep the water in the system from freezing during cold weather. Obviously, when the weather turns hot again, you’ll want to make sure you have the proper mix of chemicals to prevent overheating. Regular flushes and fills will help improve the longevity of your car by keeping your engine temperature in check.
You should also have your hoses regularly checked and replaced, if necessary. Check your hoses every 3,000 to 5,000 miles when you have your car oil changed and replace them when they begin to show signs of wear. It’s much more convenient to replace a hose when you’re having your oil changed than it is to get them replaced after having your car towed in from the side of the road. When you’re having them changed, be aware that hoses vary in their ability to withstand pressure. Buying a hose that’s rated for higher pressure will last longer between changes, saving you money.
As you can see, the cooling system is a relatively straight-forward and essential part of your car. With regular maintenance, it will give you few problems and good service throughout your car’s life.
