EP Radiators

RADIATORS A radiator is the part of the engine cooling system that excess combustion heat is lost to atmosphere by means of forced convection using a circulating liquid such as water or water/glycol to affect heat transfer. WHAT DO THEY DO? The primary function of the radiator is to transfer waste heat energy to the cooling air at a rate that will maintain the safe operating engine coolant temperatures. The processes that accomplish this are convection, conduction, and radiation. These processes are dependent upon 3 variables: • The existence of temperature differences between liquid and air • The existence of temperature differences between coolant and air flow • The design of the heat transfer surfaces to maximize their potential RADIATOR CORE The radiator core is the heat exchanger portion of the radiator assembly. It consists of three parts: • Tubes • Fins (flat fin or tubular) or serpentine • Header sheet bonded together mechanically or metallurgically TYPES OF CORE • Downflow • Crossflow • Low Flow • Split Flow • Folded Higher incidence of cooling system trouble in older vehicles Vehicles five years and older are prime candidates for cooling system troubles, troubles that could strike when least expected. NARSA experts report that cooling system service is most frequent on vehicles with more than 100000km. However, NARSA experts note that the km on a vehicle is not as big a factor in the maintenance of a cooling system as is the vehicle’s age.