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How Does a Car Radiator Work? (Explained)

Updated: Feb 2

✔ This article has been fact checked.


A car radiator is a heat exchanger that is designed to transfer heat from the hot coolant (a mixture of antifreeze and water), which circulates through the engine, to the air that is blown through the radiator (a network of tubes and fins) by the radiator fan and the vehicles movement.


Coolant is pumped through the engine by the water pump, absorbing heat from the engine block and other components, before flowing into the radiator, where it is cooled by the airflow from the radiator fan or the cars movement.


In this article, we will take a closer look at how a car radiator works and the various parts that make up a car's cooling system.


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