Water-cooled engines use a mixture of antifreeze and water to cool the engine through a radiator, while air-cooled engines have cooling fins. Antifreeze lubricates the water pump and should be changed every few years. Racing vehicles with water-cooled engines must use only water due to the slippery nature of antifreeze.
A water-cooled engine uses liquid coolant and a radiator to provide the cooling action for the engine. Coolant consists of a 50-50 mixture of antifreeze and water; it is forced through the engine by a water pump and makes its way through the water-cooled engine through the water jacket. Most water-cooled engine designs use a sand investment casting process that produces a hollow iron or aluminum engine block and cylinder head. Coolant flows through the hollow space and absorbs heat from the engine, allowing the engine to run at a controlled temperature.
Not all engines share the water cooling design; Some engines are air cooled. In this application, large cooling fins are typically cast into engine components to absorb heat and carry it out of the engine. Wind passing through the cooling fins reduces the amount of heat trapped in the engine. This type of cooling is not as effective on hot and humid days as the water-cooled engine design.
Even on a hot day, a radiator can cool engine coolant by blowing air through the cooling tubes with a cooling fan. When moving at highway speeds, the cooling fan is not required to keep the water-cooled engine at safe operating temperature. Although called a water-cooled engine, most engines don’t just use water to cool themselves. Special mixtures of chemicals and additives known as antifreeze are also used, typically a mixture of methyl and glycol alcohol; Antifreeze resists freezing in subzero temperatures while resisting overflow in severe temperatures.
Most manufacturers recommend a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water to provide the most protection for both the engine and cooling system. The special lubricants in the antifreeze lubricate the seals and bearings of the water pump. Antifreeze should be changed every few years to provide the best possible performance and protection.
Any racing vehicle that uses a water-cooled engine is required to use only water in the cooling system. This is due to the slippery nature of antifreeze and the difficulty in cleaning it off the race surface in the event of an accident. Water dries easily and will evaporate in no time when contact is made with the running surface. However, antifreeze is still very slippery and is difficult to absorb with common oil drying substances such as dry oil and sawdust. Antifreeze from a water-cooled engine can also remain on the surface of a tire for many laps, creating a dangerous condition for the driver and drivers around the affected vehicle on the track.
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