Heater = Engine Cool?

[my3rdskyline]

Simple question:
When you turn on the heat in your car, does it help in any way to cool the engine?

My theory is that the heat is coming from the engine... and it's being displaced somewhere it normally isn't so..... I think it has to.

But then again, I don't know. So I ask.

Theorys???????

[foureyedbuzzard]

Simple question:
When you turn on the heat in your car, does it help in any way to cool the engine?

My theory is that the heat is coming from the engine... and it's being displaced somewhere it normally isn't so..... I think it has to.

Simple answer:
You are correct. The heater coil acts just like your radiator. Both are heat exchangers, the heater core is simply in the passenger compartment rather than being outside. (I can remember running the heater in July when my old chevy was overheating...)

In practice the engine's thermostat regulates the flow of coolant to maintain a constant engine coolant temp of approx 190° F. Turning on the vehicle's heater would simply cool the returned coolant a little more requiring that the thermostat reduce flow slightly.