ENGINE HEATING AND COOLING PARTS

HOW TO KEEP AN ENGINE COOL

The engine heating and cooling system of your vehicle is just as important as your car's ignition and engine management system. Your engine can overheat and if this happens, you need to take quick action. Regardless of the cause of the problem, it can be scary and could be very dangerous.

In fact, heat produced from the internal combustion engines (ICE) is good, but too much of it can damage the engine, increase pollution, and make components wear out easily. The exhaust system of the vehicle helps remove some of the waste heat from the engine, but, not all of it. Internal combustion uses two things to remove heat from the car engine: coolant and air. However, if heat is transfers to the air, it will cause the engine to overheat. To avoid further damage, the engine heating and cooling system maintains the engine at an optimal operating temperature.

WHAT IS ANTIFREEZE AND WHERE DOES IT GO?

Antifreeze, or engine coolant, is a colored liquid that is mixed with distilled water and is pumped throughout the engine block to maintain normal operating temperature. Antifreeze is mixed with distilled water, usually at a 50/50 ratio, and poured into the radiator of a car or coolant reservoir and flows through the heater hoses into the engine and the heater core. Other heating and cooling system components include the water pump, thermostat, and cooling fans. Here is a summary of what each heating and cooling system component does:

Radiator : Absorbs the heat from the engine and cools the water so it can flow through the radiator.

Cooling fans : Drives fresh air to the radiator to cool down the water and is operated by a computer called an engine control module (ECM).

Coolant reservoir or tank : Stores the coolant.

Water pump : Transfers coolant from the radiator in the coolant system back into the engine and again into the radiator.

Thermostat: Keeps the coolant in the engine in a proper temperature so it can flow into the radiator.

Radiator hose or coolant bypass: Pushes coolant from the engine's water pump to the radiator.

Heater core: Small radiator that produces heat for the cabin.

Heater hose: Hose that lets circulate the coolant from the heater core to the passenger compartment.

CAUSES OF ENGINE OVERHEATING

One of the main problems of a failing engine heating and cooling system is the presence of excess heat sometimes caused by air pockets in the engine coolant passages. Other causes for engine overheating could be a radiator fan not spinning, a broken water pump, the coolant hose is clogged, or a leak in the cooling system.

Symptoms of an engine overheating can be:

• Dashboard coolant temperature light is on.
• Leaking coolant.
• Unusual smell.
• Steam, fog, or smoke coming from under the hood.
• White exhaust smoke from your muffler.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAR IS OVERHEATING

1. Turn off the A/C.
2. Turn on your car heater on max.
3. Find a safe place to pull over to.
4. Let the car cool off before you open the hood.
5. Once the car is cooled off, check the coolant level, and add coolant if necessary.
6. Once you added the coolant, restart your engine.

Here's a list of some proper safety equipment and tools to have in your car to fit any job in case of an emergency.

• Basic hand tools
• Motor oil
• Coolant / Antifreeze
• Shop Towels
• Work gloves

Prevent accidents and avoid further costly repairs this year. At the first signs of one of these symptoms visit your closest NAPA AUTOPRO service center and one of our professionals will help you figure out what your car needs.