Editing Bulletproof cooling system (section)
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==Overheating and its causes== "Overheating" essentially just means that the cooling system is taking on more heat than it can dissipate. When coolant takes on too much heat, it boils. This means that the water jacket surfaces will be covered with more steam than coolant. Steam can't absorb heat like coolant can, and this exponentially exacerbates the problem: more heat results in more steam, which leads to less effective coolant, and, in turn, more boiling of coolant. Overheating can be caused by anything that decreases the cooling system’s ability to absorb, transport and dissipate heat. Some causes of overheating are: *Low coolant level, loss of coolant, or insufficient coolant capacity *Buildup of deposits that cause poor conduction of heat into the cooling system *A thermostat that won't open *Poor airflow through the radiator *Damaged or worn fan clutch, or broken fan *Collapsed radiator hose *Loose or defective water pump impeller *Defective radiator cap *Late ignition timing If the engine overheats when idling, typically the cause is a lack of air flow through the radiator. This can be from a missing of non effective shroud, a too-small fan or a defective fan clutch assembly. If the engine overheats when cruising, typically this is caused by a too-small radiator/insufficient capacity or by the radiator tubes being occluded or too small. Lowering the opening temperature of the thermostat is not the cure for these problems. Lowering the thermostat temperature rating only delays overheating. Do check to be sure the thermostat is opening, though. If the thermostat doesn't open, the engine WILL overheat regardless if it's idling or cruising.
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