Effect of Radiator Fins Blockage by Clay Soil on the Engine Cooling Temperature

The paper studies the effect of clay soil blocking the heat transfer area of the radiator on the engine coolant temperature by developing a mathematical model. The results of the study indicated that the percentage area covered resulted in a proportional increase of the inlet and outlet temperatures of the coolant in the radiator. The mathematically model developed also predicted the experimental data very well. Regression analysis showed that for every 10% increase in the area of the radiator covered with clay soil resulted in the corresponding increase of about 21 C of the outlet temperature of the radiator coolant. A t-test showed that no significant difference between the experiment and the mathematical model prediction. Thus, irrespective of the type of material that blocks the radiator surface area, the coolant temperature rises in proportion with the area covered by the radiator.