Do I need to add a protective net to the water tank when driving in areas with a lot of willow catkins?

Many cities have the phenomenon of willow catkins dancing, and in severe cases, it is like snow. When people pass through these places, willow catkins are often sucked into the nose, causing sneezing and various discomforts. So, does it have any impact that cars often drive in these places? It has an impact, affecting two aspects. Firstly, the water tank is more likely to be blocked, and secondly, the air filter and air conditioning filter will also get dirty faster. If the filter element is dirty and clogged, it can be replaced. It is already a component that needs to be replaced frequently. Dirty water tanks can cause high water temperature and have an impact on engine lifespan. The maintenance method can only be used for cleaning, but cleaning is not easy and requires the removal of the entire water tank, which incurs high labor costs.

The water tank is located in front of the engine and behind the grille. There are two heat sinks here, one is the water tank and the other is the condenser. The condenser is the heat sink of the air conditioning system, and it is located at the front of the water tank and at the back. The appearance of the two is very similar, both are waterways with heat dissipation fins sandwiched between them. Although the condenser is in front, it is not easy to get dirty because there is a large airflow ahead. When there is dirt such as willow catkins and dust attached to it, the strong airflow will wash away the dirt. When washing the car or driving on rainy days, it can also be flushed to the condenser. However, dead insects and the like can still get stuck on the condenser, and if there are too many, it can also affect heat dissipation. When driving on the highway at night, there will be a lot of dead insects, and there will be no problem driving in the city during the day.

The water tank is located behind the condenser, which blocks the airflow and weakens its intensity. If there is willow catkins attached to the condenser and the wind blows backwards, the willow catkins will pass through the condenser and attach to the rear water tank. After being attached to the water tank, due to the low airflow intensity, it is not easy to be blown out again, and even washing the car with water is of no use. With willow catkins attached, dust becomes more easily attached, accumulating more and more, ultimately blocking the heat dissipation of the water tank. The heat dissipation capacity of the water tank is poor, which will not have an impact in winter. In summer, it will lead to high water temperature, even boiling, and inability to drive normally.

In summer, it is common to encounter some old cars with high water temperature, and the cooling system components are not faulty, just because the surface of the water tank is blocked. Rinsing with a water gun or air gun from outside won't wash it off at all. You need to remove the water tank, brush it with a brush, and rinse it with a water gun in order to clean it thoroughly. The blockage on the surface of the water tank is not just dust, but rather fluffy things such as willow catkins and fluff, which are attached to the dust and form a large area. Therefore, washing the car from the outside does not work.

If there are many willow catkins in areas where the car frequently travels, or if it often runs on highways at night, or if it walks on rocky mountain roads, a protective net can be added to the water tank to provide some protection. Willow catkins are not considered serious, so there is no need to install them when driving in the city. The protective net cannot completely prevent the water tank from being blocked, as some parts will also pass through the protective net and enter the water tank. It only has a delaying effect, but it still has a good effect on blocking dead insects. In addition to blocking dirt, the protective net can also block sand and stones, preventing the condenser from being broken by flying small stones. After installing the protective net, it should be checked regularly. If the surface is dirty, it should be removed and cleaned in a timely manner to avoid affecting air circulation

From: WONDEE Autoparts

2024-5-23