Valeo® 731537 - Engine Coolant Radiator

The most important component of a coolant module is the cooling radiator. The radiator is the main heat exchanger located at the front of the engine, or if air conditioning is mounted, behind the condenser. It transfers the heat ejected by the engine to the ambient air through the coolant. The main function of the radiator is to redistribute heat created by the engine so that it doesn't seize up or overheat. This is achieved primarily through the radiator's design. The radiator is folded much like an accordion bellows, giving it a great deal of surface area. When hot coolant travels into the radiator, the heat held within the fluid escapes through the radiator's walls. After the radiator cools the fluid, the fluid can flow back to the engine. This component has to keep an adequate cooling capacity for the car to maintain the optimum engine performance. It provides cool fluid to the auxiliary devices such as the oil cooler and charge air cooler. It maintains the rate of the coolant pressure and degassing, and ensures water tightness under thermal loop pressure. The radiator is designed to resist vibrations, torsions, bear pressure pulsation from the engine and corrosion from environmental conditions or worn-out coolant.