As the pressure increases, it becomes more difficult to move into the vapor. This increases the vapor pressure to equal or exceed atmosphere pressure, thus boiling the liquid. As temperature increases, additional particles have enough energy to enter the gas phase. Boiling Pointīoiling is the process in which molecules move from liquid state into vapor state. Since the system is pressurized, any leak in one of the hoses, radiator, or around the engine block could allow the coolant to boil causing overheating. Finally, the thermostat serves as the gate that closes when the engine is cool to let it warm up quickly, then opens up when the temperature reaches the optimal degree to let the coolant flow through and prevent overheating. If the pressure rises above the maximum level, the cap purposely vents to prevent a catastrophic disaster of built-up pressure with nowhere to go. The radiator cap keeps the entire system at a specific pressure, as it keeps the system closed to the atmosphere. It puts the coolant in motion as it flows through from the engine to the radiator and back into the engine in a cooler state. While the fan moves the air, the water pump moves the coolant. The fan assists in moving the air across the core of the radiator to assist with cooling. The radiator ejects the heat in the cooling system to the atmosphere, serving as a heat exchanger. Text by Bassem Girgis // Photos by Joe SingletonĪ radiator, a fan, a water pump, a thermostat, and a radiator pressure cap are partially responsible for the health of your engine. Here’s how you can check your cooling system and cross one item off your list of worries. That’s when a cooling system pressure test kit comes in handy. While you can visually see some leaks, we can’t rely solely on our eyes. A small leak in your cooling system could be the start of big problems and eventually complete engine failure if completely ignored. Since heat is the enemy of performance and reliability, the cooling system serves as the friend we all rely on and need. While our engines could provide us with plenty of power to put smiles on our faces, failing to address other systems that keep our engines running reliably could quickly eliminate these smiles. (It is good practice to bring the old radiator cap with you to be sure you are purchasing the correct part.D uring the chase for more horsepower, we often neglect the rest of our systems. Make sure you know the year, make, model, and engine size before you head to the parts store. (7) Install the old cap if it is still good, or if necessary buy a new radiator cap. It may lose some pressure, but should not rapidly lose a good amount. (6) Pump the pressure tester handle until the pressure builds to the manufacturer’s specification. (5) Attach the adapter with the installed cap onto the pressure tester. (4) Attach the radiator cap to the pressure tester adapter. Coolant may come out when you remove the radiator cap, so it’s best to be prepared for this possibility. (3) Place a catch pan under the radiator. Despite the cooler hose temperature, however, extreme care should be paid as there may still be hot pressurized coolant in the system. If the radiator hose is cool to the touch the motor has cooled down and you can remove the radiator cap. Do not attempt to remove the radiator cap while the system is hot, or injury may occur. Keep in mind that if the system is hot, extreme pressure and heat are at play. Carefully touch a radiator hose to determine its temperature. (1) Make sure the cooling system is not hot. In order to pressure test the cooling systems of specific vehicle makes and models, appropriate manufacturer adapters are required. The pressure of a cooling system is controlled by the radiator cap which generally holds the pressure of the system between 6-16 PSI and keeps the temperature in check.įJC Radiator and Radiator Cap Test Kits come with everything you will need to pressure test most vehicles (including the caps). Normal operating temperature of a cooling system is around 220 degrees Fahrenheit, which is slightly higher than the boiling point of water. As the coolant in your cooling system increases in temperature, the pressure in the system also increases.
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