It's the major cause of mechanical breakdown on the highway according to the U.S. Department of Transportation - the failure of the cooling system. However, many vehicle owners ignore routine check-ups and regular cooling system maintenance. Recent national car care clinics revealed that one out of every five vehicles have a low, leaking or dirty coolant condition.
The proper operation of the cooling system is critical in modern computer-controlled engines to meet emissions, fuel economy and other performance standards. Plus, the vehicle's A/C system adds to the load on the cooling system.
ACDelco's latest technical seminar, Advanced Cooling System Diagnosis (S-AC07-021.01SEM), reviews the changes of cooling systems and components over the past several years. The seminar covers a number of cooling system components, including water pumps, cooling fans, heater cores and radiators, as well as highlights new cooling systems, such as hybrid cooling, dual thermostats and "run-without-coolant" technology.
Seminar Highlights
In the seminar, participants will learn about:
• Automotive coolants - covering the types of coolants, additives, electrolysis, coolant concentration, and flushing procedures. (Fig. 8)
(Fig. 8)
• Water pumps - highlighting water pump seals, expected seal face temperatures, and installation procedures.
• Belts and hoses - review of items to check during service, misaligned belts, hose degradation, tensioners and laser alignment tools.
• Heater cores and radiators - detailing reasons for repeat heater core replacement, coolant flushing, radiator caps and radiator service, transmission coolers and thermostat testing and monitoring. (Fig. 9)
(Fig. 9)
• Fans - review of fan clutch and electric fan operation.
• Unique systems - highlighting electric cooling pumps, hybrid cooling systems, reverse flow cooling and other new systems.
New aspects of cooling systems covered in the seminar include items such as organic antifreeze, stretchy belts and intelligent thermal management systems.
The stretchy belt, for example, was introduced on the 2008 Hummer H3. The new accessory drive belt, used between the engine balancer and A/C compressor, is called a "stretchy" belt because it resembles a rubber band - it applies tension when it's pulled slightly beyond its relaxed length.
The stretchy belt does not require a spring-loaded belt tensioner. This eases installation while reducing weight and complexity. Its appearance is similar to a serpentine belt, but it is made of a new reinforcing cord made of a polyamide material that is able to maintain the specified tension within a specified range of usage. It's pointed out in the seminar that the stretchy belt cannot be reused. It should always be replaced with a new belt.
More Information
To learn more about available ACDelco training courses (both in the classroom and online) on cooling systems as well as other systems and components. Visit www.acdelcotechconnect.com and click on the Training tab.
To attend the Advanced Cooling System Diagnosis seminar or other seminars in your area, contact your local ACDelco distributor.
- Thanks to Mike Militello
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