Hybrid Cooling: Radiator

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Saturn Vue. 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 end tanks. The aluminum core is a tube and fin crossflow design that extends from the inlet tank to the outlet tank. Fins are placed around the outside of the tubes to improve heat transfer to the atmosphere.

The inlet and outlet end tanks are a molded, high temperature, nylon reinforced plastic material. A high temperature rubber gasket seals the end tank flange edge to the aluminum core. The end tanks are clamped to the core with clinch tabs. The tabs are part of the aluminum header at each end of the core.

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