Deidre Parker

A Crash Course on Engine Cooling Systems

BY DEIDRE PARKER

It’s getting hotter, and we appreciate our cooling systems more in the summer. But, no matter the weather outside, your vehicle’s cooling system plays a vital role in how your car operates. For most cars, it’s a system of hoses, channels, pumps and other devices that move coolant around the engine to manage the heat that is produced when the gasoline combusts.

When it’s colder outside, auto service specialists often hear: “What do you mean there is a problem in my cooling system? I asked you to look at my heater.” It’s a little counter intuitive with the way things are named, but your heat also stops working because of a problem with your cooling system.

Originally, the only function of the cooling system was to take the heat away from the engine. It was just some coolant, a few hoses and a radiator. The coolant would circulate around the engine to pull the heat away from the engine block. The coolant then was pumped into the top of the radiator. As the water fell through the radiator, air took the heat away from the coolant. Then, the coolant was recirculated and did this same job over and over.

Not long after, engineers decided that, if systems were simply radiating heat to the open air, they also could radiate that heat into the passenger compartment. But coolant would not get hot enough in extreme cold, which prevented it from generating heat. This led to the addition of the thermostat, which is a specialized plug that stays closed until the coolant reaches a certain temperature, when the plug opens and the coolant is free to cycle.

If your car is cold in the winter, you might have noticed the heat doesn’t work. In this case, the coolant has not warmed enough to open the thermostat and allow the coolant to flow through the little radiator on the inside of your passenger compartment (the heater core). The heat from your engine is the same heat you feel when you turn on your heater.

Over time, there have been air conditioning components integrated into the system to allow for defrosting of the windows, computerized controls and more improvements that, if serviced regularly, keep us cool all summer long.

Deidre Parker, owner-operator of Chloe's Auto Repair, holds an ASE certification and has extensive experience in the area of automotive repair.

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Supporting Our Men and Women in Blue

BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ

Last month, we commemorated National Police Week (May 1521) in honor and support of law enforcement. In Cherokee County, honor and remembrance lasts much longer than police week and has a special meaning for county resident Steve Marcinko.

In early 2021, Marcinko wanted to make a difference in the lives of the members of law enforcement. “While hosting a fundraiser at Rustix Manor, the Woodstock venue I own and operate, I needed security,” Marcinko said. “I hired officer Preston Peavy of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department. As I was making my rounds during the event, he and I struck up a conversation about the ongoing war on our police forces, and we came up with an idea for our community to show support for our cops.”

Acting on the idea, Marcinko founded the nonprofit, Back our Blue and America Too (BOBAAT), and began to plan an event to honor our police officers. When he learned about the tragic death of Holly Springs police officer Joe Burson, killed during a traffic stop June 17, 2021, Marcinko postponed the BOBAAT event out of respect to the family. When the new date arrived — Oct. 30, 2021 — it became a celebration of Officer Joe Burson Day, a day that was proclaimed by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners.

The fundraiser was a success, with community support of donations that included enough food to serve 1,500 meals. Approximately 500 members of law enforcement and their families, along with county officials and residents, attended, including Sheriff Frank Reynolds and Capt.

Marykate Burson

Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, former Woodstock Chief of Police Calvin Moss and Holly Springs Police Deputy Chief Greg Clyburn. Commission chairman Harry Johnston read the proclamation and presented it to Burson’s widow, Marykate.

“Law enforcement agencies in Cherokee County are blessed to have so much support from our community. We recognize many agencies in other areas do not receive the same love and support,” said Baker, director of communications and community relations for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department.

“Going forward, I am sure that BOBAAT will again do events to show this community’s continuing support, appreciation and gratitude to our police forces,” Marcinko said. “And even though the event, and all that went with it, was such a marvelous success, it still seemed insufficient considering what our cops do, particularly considering the loss Marykate is enduring.”

For more information, visit backourblueandamericatoo.com.

Susan Schulz is a Bible teacher and mentor who lives and plays on the Etowah River in Canton. Connect with her on social media or at susanbrowningschulz.com.