Cooling System: Description and Operation

Engine Cooling

Description

The V8i engine uses a pressurized cooling system and cross flow radiator which is supplied from a separate header tank. The coolant radiator also incorporates a section at the left hand end for cooling the transmission oil and a section at the other end for cooling the engine oil.





The belt driven viscous fan and centrifugal water pump is located in the engine front cover with ports for circulation of coolant to both banks of cylinders and cylinder heads. Coolant returns to the top of the radiator via ports in the inlet manifold where the thermostat is mounted horizontally. Coolant also circulates through the vehicle heating system and is used to heat air entering the inlet manifold plenum chamber.

Coolant Circulation

Operation

When the engine is started from cold the thermostat prevents any coolant circulation through the radiator by closing off the top hose. During the engine warm up period, the water pump, pumps coolant around the cylinders to the rear of the cylinder block along the main galleries in both cylinder banks. At the rear of the cylinder block the coolant rises through a large port in each cylinder head/block joint face, and then flows forward to connect with ports at the front of the inlet manifold. From the manifold the coolant is carried by an external pipe to the heater unit and from the heater through another external pipe to the pump inlet.

Cooling System:

The coolant circulation through the cylinder block and heads, does not change when normal running temperature is reached and the thermostat opens. But with the thermostat open, coolant flows through the top hose to the radiator where it is cooled and drawn back into the pump via the bottom hose

Plenum Chamber Heating

Air entering the plenum chamber is heated by a flow of coolant from the inlet manifold which returns through a long hose, to the top right corner of the radiator.

Plenum Chamber Heating: