Cooling system dynamics

[EFA]

Is there any scientific reason why a cooling system needs to flow through the rad from top to bottom?

 

 

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[The Pikey]

the most scientific reason I can think of is that heat rises so the water must be cooler if taken from the bottom? Can't imagine it makes a massive difference though.

 

Jason

 

 

[Paul Deslandes]

What Jason says.

Some pre-war cars had thermo-siphon cooling with no water pump and relied on the more dense cooled water in the radiator dropping under gravity to circulate. Having said that, I would have thought a decent pump would overcome that effect pretty easily so you could probably run in reverse if you needed to. Be worth knowing if anyone has done it without problems though.

 

ps, your old car has turned up next door to a friend of mine in Brockham. Seems its having bike engine fitted.

 

 

 

Edited by - Paul Deslandes on 14 Nov 2010 11:08:47

[Pendennis]

As Jason says, but it will make a significant difference with regards to efficiency.

 

But, the other reason why return should be at the bottom is because it almost guarantee's the water returning to the pump/engine is fully flooded. I.E. Liquid and not a saturated state

 

Want to rent an 18th century Farmhouse in Rural Somerset?

 

Edited by - Pendennis on 14 Nov 2010 11:17:05

[EFA]

Thanks chaps, not critical, but best practice to feed from the stat to the top of the rad then.

 

The rad is fed by 2x 6' runs along the sill of the car so I guess that also reduceds the criticality.

 

Paul, let me know when you find the owner. Nigel gave up on it and spent his money on a Cerbera.

 

 

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[EFA]

DP

 

Edited by - EFA on 14 Nov 2010 19:16:48

[Pendennis]

Your better off controlling the return water, though it should be okay if the feed is free from air

 

Want to rent an 18th century Farmhouse in Rural Somerset?

[Paul Deslandes]

That sounds similar to a 308 with the engine in the back and the rad at the front.

 

Apparently Nigel still has the 7 but gave up on fitting the bike engine himself and has someone else doing the work. I'll get an update at the end of the week when Linda sees his mrs.