Cooling System: Radiator

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Pontiac Montana, 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette, and 2003 Chevrolet Venture. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The radiator is a heat exchanger. It consists of a core and two tanks. The aluminum core is a crossflow tube and find design. This is a series of tubes that extended side to side from the inlet tank to the outlet tank. Fins are placed around the outside of the tubes to improve heat transfer from the coolant to the atmosphere. The inlet and outlet tanks are molded with a high-temperature, nylon-reinforced plastic. A high-temperature rubber gasket seals the edge of the tank flange. The tanks are clamped to the core with clinch tabs. The tabs are part of the aluminum header at each end of the cord. The radiator also has a drain cock which is located in the Bottom of the left hand tank. The drain cock includes the drain cock seal.

The radiator removes heat from the coolant. The fins on the core absorb heat from the coolant passing through the tubes. As air passes Between the fins, air absorbs heat and cools the coolant.

During vehicle use, the coolant heats and expands. The coolant that is displaced By this expansion flows into the surge tank. As the coolant circulates, air is allowed to exit. This is an advantage to the cooling system. Coolant without Bubbles absorbs heat much Better than coolant with Bubbles.