| Quite simple a Liquid Cooled Engines is any type | | | | cooling of the engine catastrophic failure is |
| of internal combustion engine that cools itself by | | | | guaranteed. |
| circulating water (or a type of coolant, antifreeze | | | | This problem was recognized early on. Radiators |
| or a combination of coolant additives) throughout | | | | were manufactured to cool the liquid (most often |
| the engine. In today's high performance engines, | | | | water and some type of additive). Manual water |
| cooling must be enhanced. Why do we enhance | | | | pumps were installed on the engines to circulate |
| the cooling of a internal combustion engine? | | | | the water in a attempt to cool the engine. It did |
| First lets look at the engine and what is going on | | | | not take long to realize that the radiator needed |
| inside. At cruising speed, a eight cylinder engine will | | | | help. Thus the fan mounted on the water pump |
| have over 8000 internal explosions per minute. | | | | was used to either push or pull air thru the cooling |
| What that means is that each cylinder will go thru | | | | fins of the radiator and cool the coolant and cool |
| the four stroke process and fire producing | | | | the engine. Today it is not uncommon to find the |
| horsepower, torque "Power" needed to maintain | | | | newer automobiles with electric fans. These fans |
| the cruising speed. There is another beast that is | | | | run off a electric thermostat that will start and |
| produced during this process. Heat. Heat will not | | | | stop the fan as needed. Engine oil assists in the |
| go away with out some type of help. | | | | cooling of the engine also. Engine oil cools itself |
| Approximately ½ of the heat produced | | | | thru the circulation process. In many of today's |
| during the power stroke is exhausted out of the | | | | high performance engines there are oil coolers |
| engine during the exhaust stroke. However with | | | | attached to the radiator. |
| temperatures reaching in excess of 2000 degrees | | | | Water will boil at 212 degrees F. Under pressure |
| and only ½ eliminated that leaves the | | | | this temperature will rise before boiling. It was not |
| remaining heat to be absorbed by the internal | | | | too long after this that coolant additives |
| engine parts, pistons, cylinder heads, valves and | | | | (antifreeze) were added to the radiator. This |
| the engine block itself and the engine oil. None of | | | | served two purposes, one to assist in cooling and |
| these engine parts or the engine oil can withstand | | | | the second as a rust inhibitor. Antifreeze, and |
| unlimited heat, therefore there must be a | | | | many after market coolant additives depending |
| mechanical means to cool these parts. Most | | | | upon the concentration will raise this boiling point |
| conventional motor oils will break down as a result | | | | even more. This is why it is very important to |
| of excessive heat. Synthetic motor oils have been | | | | have you cooling system checked annually. |
| proven to withstand more heat. Without the | | | | |