What Causes Pressure in the Radiator?
2 Answers
Car radiator pressure causing high water temperature is mainly due to a damaged radiator cap or a blown head gasket. Below is an introduction to the radiator: Concept: The car radiator, also known as the heat exchanger, is a key component in the car's cooling system. Its function is to dissipate heat. The coolant absorbs heat in the water jacket, flows to the radiator to release the heat, and then returns to the water jacket to circulate, achieving temperature regulation. It is an integral part of the car engine. Working Principle: The radiator is a crucial component of water-cooled engines. As an essential part of the engine's cooling circuit, it absorbs heat from the engine block to prevent overheating. Due to water's high specific heat capacity, the temperature rise after absorbing the engine block's heat is not significant, allowing the engine's heat to be dissipated through the liquid cooling circuit.
I've been driving for many years, and the air pressure in the radiator is really a headache. Once during winter, after a long highway drive, I stopped and found air on the radiator cap, with coolant spraying out. The reason was either a poor seal in the cooling system allowing air to mix in, or the aging spring valve in the radiator cap failing, causing pressure regulation issues. Leaving this untreated for a long time can easily lead to insufficient coolant, engine temperature spikes, and in severe cases, damage to the cylinder head gasket or water pump. That time, I first checked the coolant level myself, found it low, and topped up with antifreeze. But since the air pressure issue persisted, I quickly went to a repair shop to replace the cap. Since then, I've made it a habit to have the technician check the entire cooling system during every maintenance visit to ensure no leaks or aging parts. I also keep an eye on the temperature gauge regularly. This habit has helped me avoid a lot of trouble and extended the engine's lifespan.
