radiator

[mitchell574]

Can anyone tell me the flow direction of a radiator.Does the water pump push water through the block out the bottom hose up through the radiator back to the waterpump or vise versa. I posted previously concerning a cracked engine block. I am trying to find a bad engine oil leak behind where the front end bolts on or around one of the bolt holes that holds the front end on. I have to remove front end and radaitor to locate leak with engine running. I plan to plumb a garden hose and an exaust hose out the shop door. The front end was torn off of this tractor during an collision with a tree by the previous owner's herbally impaired son. I have completed the reassemblly only to find this leak.

 

[v8dave]

Hot water rises, cold water sinks. Radiators are set up so that the cold water will fall out the bottom and into the engine colder than it entered at the top.

1910/20s Ford model T cars used this fact to circulate the water through the motor and radiator without the benefit of a mechanical pump. This action was called a thermo-syphon.

So, the answer is that hot water enters the top of the of the radiator and exits at the bottom. Most water pumps are set up to push water into the engine in order to keep the water under pressure and less likely to boil.

 

[hbaird]

While some may pump as v8dave described, others go in the reverse direction. The reverse method brings the cooled water to the head/heads first. The cylinder head is the hottest point on the engine when running. From the head the water flows to the block keeping the temperature fairly even, head and block, so the expansion differences are minimized. A way to tell on an engine is to remove the radiator cap on a cold engine and then start it. When the thermostat starts to open, if the water comes out the fill hole you have reverse flow.
Harold

 

[mitchell574]

Radiator is removed. Tractor front end seperated on floor.Iguess I am going to have to plumb up my hoses and see if it flows right.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The front end was torn off of this tractor during an collision with a tree by the previous owner's herbally impaired son. )</font>

Please inform me as to where I can send my bill for cleaning my monitor, desk, and office wall.

That comment made me launch half a diet Pepsi when I read it!

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

And I'm guessing the "herb" in question weren't from moms spice rack

 

[Farwell]

Kinda struck me the same way. I didn't have anything in my mouth when I read it but had I, it would have coated the monitor,the wall and everything else as well. I have never heard it put quite that way and I love it. "Herbally impaired"! I have already told several friends about the neighbor's son and they roared with laughter.
Thanks for the humor.
Farwell

 

[v8dave]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( While some may pump as v8dave described, others go in the reverse direction. The reverse method brings the cooled water to the head/heads first. The cylinder head is the hottest point on the engine when running. From the head the water flows to the block keeping the temperature fairly even, head and block, so the expansion differences are minimized. A way to tell on an engine is to remove the radiator cap on a cold engine and then start it. When the thermostat starts to open, if the water comes out the fill hole you have reverse flow.
Harold )</font>

My reply here isn't going to help Mitchell much now because I've had water flow out of radiator fill holes on a hot-water-goes-in-the-top radiators too--on several makes of engines.

I didn't state how or where the water flows in the motor.

 

[Inspector507]

All of the cars I ever worked on had it set up to dump the returning water in the top of the radiator. I figured it was because they always wanted a supply of water in the bottom of the radiator for the pump to send through the engine. If it was reversed and the coolant level were a little bit low, no coolant could be pumped through the engine if pulled from the top.

 

[mitchell574]

Sorry to ruin so much equipment. Only trying to find an answer. Unplug all wash it with the garden hose. Dont forget good degreaser.

 

[mitchell574]

Thought about something else. Soapy water, spray bottle air compressor through crank case vent.