
The van's radiator is located at the front of the vehicle. The function of the car radiator and the water filling position are as follows: Function of the Car Radiator: The car radiator absorbs heat from the engine block to prevent the engine from overheating. Due to water's high specific heat capacity, its temperature does not rise significantly after absorbing heat from the engine block. Therefore, the engine's heat is transferred through the liquid cooling circuit using water as the heat carrier. The heat is then dissipated via large-area cooling fins through convection, maintaining the engine at an appropriate operating temperature. Water Filling Position for the Car Radiator: There are two markings on the inner wall of the coolant reservoir: one labeled MAX and the other labeled MIN, indicating the maximum and minimum levels, respectively. Simply ensure the water level remains between these two marks.

I've been driving a van for transportation for seven or eight years, so I know the radiator's location like the back of my hand. When you open the hood and look toward the front of the vehicle, the square metal piece right behind the front grille is the main body of the radiator, usually connected to several rubber hoses. During summer highway driving, I'm most concerned about radiator issues. Once, I noticed abnormal water temperature and immediately pulled over to check. Upon lifting the hood, I saw coolant leaking from the lower right corner of the radiator—turned out the rough road had shaken the bracket screws loose. Remembering the expansion tank's location is even more crucial. It looks like a white plastic container filled with yellow or green liquid, tucked in the left or right corner of the engine bay. I recommend checking the water level line every time you open the engine compartment each month. If it's below the MIN mark, top it up with distilled water as an emergency measure, but never use tap water to prevent scaling.

From a mechanic's perspective, the layout of van radiators is actually quite standardized. When you open the hood and face the front of the vehicle, you'll see the radiator resembling a metal cube with louvers mounted behind the grille. The upper section has an inlet hose connected to the engine, while the lower section features an outlet hose for coolant circulation. Our workshop frequently encounters radiators clogged with willow catkins, especially during spring and summer - you can spot fluff sticking to the cooling fins by peering through the grille slits. The expansion tank is even easier to identify, as most modern vehicles use translucent plastic reservoirs with blue caps mounted on either sidewall of the engine bay. Remember to only top up coolant when the engine is cold - last year we had a customer scald their hand by opening the radiator cap while the engine was hot.

During my last self-driving trip, the temperature warning light suddenly came on in my Wuling Hongguang in the middle of nowhere, which forced me to quickly learn about car radiators. In vans, the radiator is usually located at the very front of the engine compartment and can be spotted by opening the hood. Once at a repair shop, I saw a mechanic working on a car and learned that the radiator consists of two parts: a metal radiator core right behind the front grille, followed by a plastic expansion tank. In my old Jinbei model, the expansion tank is on the left side of the engine, with MAX/MIN markings on its body. It's best to have a professional shop check the hoses with a pressure tester during seasonal changes, as leaks can cause engine seizure. Always remember to operate at a safe parking spot, especially never open the hood hastily on highways.


