Engine Cooling System - Keeping Your Cool

The cooling system can be read like a book, but you have to learn the language. You should be looking at the coolant each week in the same manner that you look at the spark plugs to read what is happening in the combustion chamber or the oil to see what is happening in the crankcase. If the cooling system is low each time you check it, and there are no puddles under the car, then something is definitely happening that needs further attention. In the same fashion, if you see oil in the coolant, then there is a problem that needs immediate attention.

The real message is that the cooling system requires attention each week. We need to remember that the radiator is the heart of the cooling system, and as such, is a tool-not a fix to a poorly working cooling system. All of the parts have to work in harmony to accomplish the end goal.

The author can be reached via e-mail at vahok.hill@cox.net.

When walking through the pits at a racetrack, as I am accustomed to doing, I try to look out for things that are interesting or otherwise noteworthy. During a race at Manzanita Speedway, I noticed several of the cars had 5-gallon fuel jugs bolted to the floor. Some were on the passenger side of the car and some were behind the driver. Some had lines running from a fitting on the cap, while others had holes drilled into the side and bulkhead fittings screwed into the tank. All of them had fluid visible through the side of the translucent containers. The lines were all routed to an electric pump that was wired to a switch next to the driver. The line from the pump output would disappear under the dashboard heading toward the engine compartment.

As first glance, these looked like fuel tanks. I am quite sure not too many people would race a car with a 5-gallon plastic fuel tank mounted in the driver's compartment. I know the safety crew and the technical inspectors would not allow such a safety hazard on the track.

So I investigated further.

The lines were clear plastic, 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch, and were routed to another line that was mounted in front of the radiator. This device was designed to spray water on the front of the radiator during cautions, when the airflow over the radiator was not sufficient to cool the engine. The spray would also wash off any loose dirt or mud that had accumulated on the radiator during the previous laps, providing a simple solution to a potentially race-ending problem. -J.H.

* It is important to make sure your cooling system is properly filled to avoid capturing air in the block.

* The radiator should be mounted so it can flex and move just a bit. Bolting the radiator solid to the chassis is a sure recipe for cooling system disaster.

* A thermostat check should be a part of your regular maintenance. Just place the thermostat in a pan of water with a thermometer. Place the pan on the stove and notice when the thermostat opens and at what temperature.

* You should be looking at the coolant in your cooling system each week. If the system is low each time you check it, and there are no puddles under the car, then something is definitely happening that needs further attention.