Parts of the Cooling System:

1. RADIATOR: Cools off the anti-freeze/coolant mixture by allowing air passing through the tube/fin area to dissipate the heat generated by the engine.

2. WATER PUMP: Draws the cooled anti-freeze from the radiator and pumps it through the engine block, cylinder head(s), heater core and back to the radiator.

3. FREEZE PLUGS: Is actually a steel plug designed to seal holes in the engine block and cylinder head(s) created from the casting process. In freezing weather they may push out if there is not enough anti-freeze protection.

4. HEAD GASKET /TIMING COVER GASKET: Seals the major parts of the engine. Prevents oil, anti-freeze and cylinder pressure from mixing together.

5. HEATER CORE: Provides heat to the interior of the car by using heat removed from the antifreeze and blown in by the blower motor. May cause steam, odor or actual dripping inside the car when it leaks.

6. THERMOSTAT: Controls the minimum operating temperature of the engine. The thermostat is closed when the engine is cold in order to speed warm-up and opens when normal operating temperature is reached to allow the anti-freeze / coolant to pass through the radiator.

7. HOSES (Radiator, Heater, By-pass): Connect the other main components of the cooling system. Hose manufacturers recommend replacing every 4 years regardless of appearance because there may be deterioration of the inside of the hose which cannot be seen.

8. FAN CLUTCH: Senses the temperature of the air coming through the radiator and either slips or binds up to pull the required amount of air through the radiator.

9. ELECTRIC COOLING FAN: Most front wheel drive cars use this because of the transverse mounted engine. It is turned on by a system of sensors and relays when the engine reaches about 230 F and stays on until the coolant is cooled to about 200 F.

10. Coolant: A liquid cooled system uses a mixture of Ethylene Glycol and water as a medium to cool  the engine, and transfer its heat to the outside air.

The cooling system test is made up from some or all of these questions
 

What are the three jobs of the cooling system?
a) get rid of excess heat            b) bring the engine to operating temperature as quickly as possible
c) maintain efficient operating temperature                     d) all of the above

If the engine operated at too low a temperature, what would happen?
a) condensation would build up in the oil.           b) fuel economy would be poor
c) the engine would wear very quickly   d) engine emissions would be poor
e) all of the above
 

 If the engine was allowed to operate at too high a temperature what would happen?
a) engine would be damaged                 b) poor emissions
c) poor fuel economy                            d) all of the above
 

Which is a disadvantage of the air cooled system?
a) poor emissions                      b) simpler
c) cheaper                                d) less maintenance
 

What is the part that increases the surface area in contact with the moving air?
a) shrouds                                b) fan
c) fins                                       d) baffles

What is the part that keeps the air moving past the engine?
a) shrouds                                b) fan
c) fins                                       d) baffles

     Most air cooled systems have some sort of ____________ to prevent air from moving over the engine when it is cold to allow it to warm up.
a) thermostat                b) temperature gauge
c) fan shut off                d) baffles

. The advantage of a liquid cooled system is that it is:
a) less expensive to build           b) cheaper to maintain
c) simpler                                 d) requires less maintenance
e) none of the above 

 The water jacket is:
a) a passage which joins the engine and radiator
b) a container around the outside of the cylinders
c) the container that stores the coolant before it goes through the radiator
d) none of the above

 To replace the frost plugs:
a) coat them with silicon RTV   b) drive them in with a socket
c) strike on the inside, not the edge        d) all of the above 

 The water pump is a:
a) centrifugal pump                   b) positive displacement pump
c) sump pump                           d) all of the above 

 The water pump is usually driven by:
a) an electric motor                   b) the camshaft
c) the fan belt                            d) air from the fan 

 The impeller shaft is supported by:
a) plain engine bearings b) anti-friction bearings
c) tapered roller bearings          d) none of the above 

 If the water pump is leaking, it is a simple matter for the mechanic to rebuild the pump.
                        True                 False 

When checking out a water pump, check for:
a) noisy bearing                        b) leaking seal
c) loose shaft                            d) all of the above 

Which is not part of the center part of the radiator which actually transfers the heat?
a) core             b) tanks            c) tubes            d) fins 

 True or false? The larger the surface area of the core, the more heat it can get rid of.
                        True                 False 

 Older rad cores are made of:
a) brass            b) aluminum                  c) steel             d) plastic

  Newer rad cores are made of:
a) brass            b) aluminum                  c) steel             d) plastic

  Older rad tanks are made of:
a) brass            b) aluminum                  c) steel             d) plastic

 Newer rad tanks are made of:
a) brass            b) aluminum                  c) steel             d) plastic

 Why are radiators painted black?
a) because black is more aesthetically pleasing   b) to match the paint on most cars
c) to transfer heat better                                    d) none of the above

 Newer cars have cross or horizontal flow rads because:
a) they fit under the low hood line of a modern car         b) they work better
c) they work better with front wheel drive          d) all of the above

 The radiator tanks:
a) store the coolant until it goes through the core
b) have connections for the top and bottom rad hoses
c) have a cooler in the cool tank for an automatic transmission if the car has one
d) all of the above

 Check for leaks in the cooling system with a:
a) compression tester                b) hydrometer              
c) pressure tester                          d) all of the above

 An engine with a thermostat that is stuck open will:
a) overheat very quickly after starting    b) never warm up
c) overheat while pulling up a long hill    d) overheat in slow traffic

 An engine with a thermostat that is stuck shut will:
a) overheat very quickly after starting    b) never warm up
c) overheat while pulling up a long hill    d) overheat in slow traffic

 An engine with an electric fan that has a faulty switch or relay will:
a) overheat very quickly after starting    b) never warm up
c) overheat while pulling up a long hill    d) overheat in slow traffic

 An engine that has a radiator that has either its tubes or its fins plugged will:
a) overheat very quickly after starting    b) never warm up
c) overheat while pulling up a long hill    d) overheat in slow traffic

 An engine without a thermostat will:
a) get poor emissions                b) wear out quickly
c) get poor fuel economy          d) all of the above

 True or False?        The thermostat is usually located in the last  place the coolant goes before entering the radiator?
                                    True                             False

 If the thermostat fails:
a) replace it with a new one                   b) rebuild the one you have
c) either of the above                            d) none of the above 

When checking radiator hoses, check for:
a) sponginess    b) brittleness     c) swelling        d) all of the above

The two types of drive belts used to drive the accessories are:
a) vee and gilmer          b) gilmer and serpentine            c) vee and serpentine
d) none of the above 

When checking belts for wear, check for:
a) cracking                   b) fraying          c) evidence of slipping   d) all of the above

 True or False? A loose fan belt will cause the battery to go dead.    
                                    True                 False

 Above ten kilometer per hour the fan:
a) keeps the air moving through the rad b) does nothing
c) charges the battery                                        d) none of the above

 Which type of fan will only come on when it is needed?
a) mechanical                b) clutch           c) electric         d) cooling

 What part creates the pressure in a cooling system?
a) thermostat                b) water pump c) radiator cap              d) radiator 

 What part sets the temperature the engine runs at?
a) thermostat                b) water pump c) radiator cap              d) radiator

 What part circulates the coolant?
a) thermostat                b) water pump c) radiator cap              d) radiator

 What part transfers the heat from the coolant to the air?
a) thermostat                b) water pump c) radiator cap              d) radiator 

What happens to the boiling point of water when it is pressurized?
a) goes up                    b) goes down               c) stays the same          d) makes no difference

Which is a function of anti-freeze?
a) prevents freezing                   b) raises the boiling point          
c) prevents corrosion                d) all of the above        

 The best mixture of anti-freeze is:
a) 100% glycol             b) 90% glycol 10% water
c) 50% glycol, 50% water        d) 10% glycol 90% water