Car Radiators

[2F45T4U]

Why do some car radiators have 2 connections on them and other like the Dolomite have 3?

[xvivalve]

So that all the pipes coming off the engine have somewhere to go.

[george]

thats bl for you

[2F45T4U]

So you guys don't now why then

[Lewis]

Depends on how and where the flow goes through the block/heads/ancilleries. Also depends on where the waterpump is, any extra connections such as header tanks or overflows...

[Dollyboy]

nah, i reckon they got some pipe as a good deal and cut it up into little bits and thought

"hhmmmmmmm, i know, lets put an extra spigot on there for the header tank, just for a laugh, for the good it'll do"

[2F45T4U]

Somebodies got to know... and then tell me

[Dollyboy]

basically you need 2 - hot in, cooler out, otherwise there wouldnt be much point in having a radiator?! but if theres only 2, the header tank will plumb into some other part of the system... the header tank into rad method on some cars is just probably more convenient in terms of location id say, but if im honest i havent got a clue, not being a car cooling system development engineer, should be more up your street?

why do you need to know?

[Jon Tilson]

As tha car speeds up the water pump flow rate goes up too...
The dolly has a side to side rad...so the fat hose goes to the hot side...the thin goes to the top of the cold side. There are also the heater pipes...cold side goes to the pump cover, hot side comes out of the heard (TR7) or the inlet manifold outlet. Then we have a bypass so the fow carries on when the heatre is off...

Why the dolly thin top hose goes to the top of the cold side is propably to stop some sort of sped related pressure build up or something to do with the thermostat. It never gives any trouble, so thats why we dont think that much about it...

Jonners

[Lee Flintoft]

While we're on the subject of rads, where can we source replacement rads. I have heard a few of you talking about higher spec rads?

[Sprint36]

To let the air out