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Author Topic: How come cars don't overheat anymore  (Read 2626 times)

Offline powman

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« on: June 28, 2005, 12:42:41 am »
Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but one of the things I like about this forum is that I do learn a thing or two.

I remember as a kid on a hot summer day cars would overheat quite routinely.  Nowadays, you never see a car pulled to the side with steam pouring out.  What technological changes did they do to cars to prevent this from happening?

(Advanced thanks to those answering what probably is a dumb question).
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Offline initial_D

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2005, 01:41:41 am »
Better water. More additives.

Guessing better engine design improves efficiency, less heat generated, and far more better and efficient cooling system.  

There arew no stupid questions, just stupid answers, or stupid people ask question?

(Message edited by initial_d on June 28, 2005)
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Smainville

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2005, 05:52:22 am »
I think it's a combination of the quality of the coolant, and better engine design.
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Offline tpl

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2005, 06:38:45 am »
and:

much better hoses!  

many incremental improvements in the design of radiators and heater cores.  The fact that radiators can be made of aluminum with plastic header tanks says a lot for materials technology.

more reliable thermostats

and as is said above, coolants that dont eat away at engine materials and the hoses and radiators
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Offline safristi

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2005, 06:50:36 am »
GLOBAL WARMING !!!!!......
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Offline tortoise

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2005, 07:24:23 am »
Hmmmm, apparently my girlfriends '94 Jeep GC didn't get that memo this spring...  

Also, another reason may be the fail safe thermostats          that still route coolant through the engine when they    fail.
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Offline powman

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2005, 07:52:59 am »
Thanks gents!
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Offline ovr50

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2005, 10:16:54 am »
I suspect better engine design is the major part of it. I recall that car engines of the 50s and 60s suffered damage more often for other reasons also; such as loss of oil pressure, broken rods, coolant mixing in with oil, etc. My step-dads small town garage in rural AB was always doing engine jobs. Mind you, the rebuilds were a lot simpler then.  
I think there is also more complete preventative maintenance today.  
Just my guesses, certainly not an expert here.
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Offline barrie1

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2005, 11:55:49 am »
I think between the modern rads and cooling fans which are now included on most engines it has improved this problem a lot since then. It used to be the only fan was the one on the engine but now there is usually 2-3 fans as well. Many different things have helped this problem.
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Offline safristi

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2005, 12:13:26 pm »
Has to be all these DESIGNER WATERS available...Evian ,Perrier,Goldshucksomething,Canadian Springs..cars are embarassed ta spew and splutter those expensive bevvies......
  Prolly a combo of all already said...better flow thru design in the engine water jacket,improved non rusting/depositing anti_freezes,mutliple or more efficient fans programmed to start well before melt_downs..better rads and hoses,oils taking a bigger part in the cooling effort and lower BTU's,some beeing re_directed from the engine block...many being used for pollution recycling and catalyst heating,turbo driving....
  IF this weather keeps up in ONtario and the Cottage Conga up the 400 happens Friday Holiday...report back and see how many don't BLOW THEIR STACK!!!!!.....
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Offline Snowman

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #10 on: June 28, 2005, 03:15:37 pm »
ECU
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Offline safristi

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #11 on: June 28, 2005, 03:26:24 pm »
ICU...MARKO!!!!!
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Offline Snowman

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #12 on: June 28, 2005, 03:39:29 pm »
I see ewe!...run!...run!....here comes somebody in a kilt.
facker
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Offline ovr50

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #13 on: June 28, 2005, 03:48:55 pm »
I don't think work is holding anyone's attention today....????
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Offline Drivesideways

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #14 on: June 28, 2005, 03:55:47 pm »
Only the sheep's.
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Offline johngenx

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #15 on: June 28, 2005, 04:56:16 pm »
Why do shepards wear robes?




















Because sheep can hear a zipper a mile away.
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Offline johngenx

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #16 on: June 28, 2005, 05:03:25 pm »
Back on topic?  It's TUESDAY, guys.  You're all acting like it's the long weekend already.

Coolants have improved remarkably, meaning better boiling protection and lower internal corrosion.  Engine management systems now control the cooling system, activiating fans as required and many cars now have multi-stage thermostats as well.

We've also learned a thing or two about aerodynamics and are better at getting the air around/over the car in a smooth pattern but allowing the right amount into the radiator.

We also went through a time when many makers were putting alloy head on iron blocks and they had difficulty in mating the two materials with a gasket.  It meant frequent head gasket failures that resulted in giant overheating.

Someone mentioned hoses.  Yup, another key one.  Hoses used to rot quickly, but now they last a loooong time.  I remember changing coolant hoses as part of routine maintenenace.  No longer.

AC condensor design has progressed, meaning less strain on the overall cooling system during AC demand.

Coolant pump design has improved as well, with small efficient pumps common now.
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Offline safristi

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #17 on: June 29, 2005, 12:32:38 am »
All this HOT talk is making me disrobe...!!!!!..well hello.....cool it Dolly.....it's so nice of you to.....
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Offline powman

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #18 on: June 29, 2005, 01:18:46 am »
Thanks Johngenx.  You know your stuff.

By the way Saffy, are you feeling ok. Your post today at 12:13 was actually 90% serious.  Ah, but your last post shows you are back to your old self.  I was getting a little worried there.
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Offline safristi

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How come cars don't overheat anymore
« Reply #19 on: June 29, 2005, 09:55:44 am »
12:13 ah...that was when I ran out of Flora De Cana rum...the bloody LCBO is out of the damn nectar !!!
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