Yep, there”s a lot of heat wasted from radiator

Dear Bob: I read your columns with interest, and have a lifelong love of cars and engines.

I studied a lot of science in school, and was always appalled by the loss of so much heat that just “went out the radiator” in an internal-combustion engine.

Back before modern antifreeze went into common use, we had a constant battle to keep the percentage of coolant in the radiator high enough to prevent freezing — and God help us if it froze up on us. As a child, I wondered why the engine was heating up while the radiator was frozen!

With all the emphasis on making engines more efficient, why is no effort being made to convert the 50-percent-plus energy loss that goes out the radiator into practical mechanical force that can be used to propel the vehicle?

Please keep up the good work — I enjoy your articles.

Sincerely,

— P.G., Loudonville, N.Y.

A: Actually, the percentage of wasted heat is much more than you suggest. Of all the energy released when fuel is burned, only 20 percent to 30 percent is actually used to propel the vehicle at speeds of more than 30 mph. As much as 80 percent of the energy is heat ejected from the radiator and cooling system or is consumed by engine friction, accessories and auxiliaries attached to the engine.

This is indeed a sad commentary on today’s engines. Think of the fuel economy we could get if engineers only could find a way to harness even a fraction of that wasted heat and use it to move the vehicle! So far, though, no one has come up with a way to make use of all that wasted energy.

We burn fuel to create that heat, so why not put the heat to use instead of allowing it to escape? Obviously that’s easier said than done.

Dear Bob: I recently had transmission leaks repaired on both of my Chrysler vehicles in the same week. They were both at the radiator-tube connection, and both were caused by a worn/weak clamp. Both vehicles, a 2000 Dodge van and a 2002 Sebring, had 45,000 miles.

The mechanic said that he sees a lot of these leaks and that it’s from the cheap clamp Chrysler uses. He said that GM is just as bad, for the same reason.

Why don’t Chrysler and GM use better clamps?

— J.M., Belleville, Ill.

A: I can’t answer that, but maybe your letter — which doubtless reflects a good many complaints from customers as well — will help inspire both companies to upgrade.

Anywhere in the engine where a hose connects to metal is a likely place for a leak, and it’s not a bad idea to learn where these junctures are and to inspect them every so often.

Dear Bob: My daughter bought a 1998 Dodge Neon at an auction for $2,500. She has had nothing but trouble with this car. The coolant is mixing with the oil, causing the hoses to expand, and it is always running out of oil as well.

Short of junking this car, as many people have advised, what can we do to remedy this problem? Most people say that it’s not worth fixing.

— S.B., Bradford, Mass.

A: Sounds like the car has a cracked head or a blown head gasket, so I’d have to side with “most people” who say that it’s not worth fixing. To fix it would cost somewhere in the range of what she originally paid for the car, and after all that you’d still have a car that wasn’t worth much.

An auction isn’t the place for an amateur to buy a car. Your daughter should go to a reputable dealer who backs up the vehicle with a warranty of some type, or buy from a private individual who won’t object to her taking the car to a mechanic for a complete inspection before buying.

AMERICAN DRIVERS FIGHT BACK

Here’s a tip that will help you get better gas mileage while fighting terrorism and cutting our nation’s dependence on Mideastern oil:

Tires that are not properly balanced tend to hop and shimmy, creating additional rolling resistance and drag that the car must overcome by using more engine energy and, therefore, by burning more gasoline. Well-balanced tires are a prerequisite for anyone seeking top fuel economy, a smooth ride and safe handling.

Be sure to balance the rear tires as well as the front ones, because they tend to exhibit similar characteristics when unbalanced. That way, when rotating your tires, you won’t have to bother balancing the rear ones.

If the spare is used in the rotation, make certain that it also is balanced.