The combustion of fuel and air inside the engine produces enormous heat, only a part of which is converted to mechanical energy to drive the vehicle and the rest is left to engine body and exhaust for removal. Twenty minutes – it could take only 20 minutes – to melt an average engine at the heat produced at high speed driving abilities available today. Additionally, all other parts of the engine also may run at very high temperature, much above the normal boiling temperature of water. When metal temperatures are not controlled by adequate cooling, the consequences are lubrication failure and serious engine damage. This is why an automotive engine cooling system is required.

The purpose of an automotive engine cooling system is to control the engine metal temperature within safe limits by removing excess heat produced by the combustion. The enormous heat generated in combustion chamber utilizes only one-third of it to convert into mechanical energy for driving the vehicle, one-third is removed through exhaust gas and the remaining one-third is released to the engine body which eventually heats up the vehicle. The liquid cooling medium flowing through the cooling system absorbs this heat and dissipates it to the atmosphere through a radiator.