Do it yourself
Frequently asked questions about cars and motorcycles
Car tutorial (Do it yourself) Motorcycle tutorial (Do it yourself) Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Purpose of the Heat Exchanger in a Car?

Model: (Various brands) Various
Part: Checks and maintenance

In our vehicle, we have a plate heat exchanger. It dissipates heat in the hottest parts of the engine; indeed, on one side, engine oil passes through, and on the other side, water flows to the radiator where it disperses the heat. This way, the oil cools down, does not burn, and prevents the engine from seizing. This component is mainly fitted on turbo-diesel engines due to their high compression ratios, or on highly tuned turbo petrol engines. Additionally, in winter, it helps bring the engine oil up to temperature, as the water heats up before the oil. If it fails, water and oil mix, leading to the risk of thinking the head gasket has blown.

Updated on 6 August 2026 by ScegliAuto

Video tutorial

Related tutorials

What is the lubricant heat exchanger?
What is the lubricant heat exchanger?
(Various brands) Various To cool the lubricant temperature inside the engine, there is a radiator known as a heat exchanger because it is traversed by the radiator fluid in o…
What is the purpose of the oil-water heat exchanger in a car?
What is the purpose of the oil-water heat exchanger in a car?
(Various brands) Various What is the purpose of the oil-water heat exchanger? It serves the same function as the engine cooling radiator, which is why it is also called an oi…
What does it mean to smell exhaust fumes inside a diesel car?
What does it mean to smell exhaust fumes inside a diesel car?
(Various brands) Various In this video we can see the reasons why we smell exhaust fumes inside the cabin of our diesel car: in fact, lifting the car, we discover that there …

Other guides you may be interested in

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • Vari - What does it mean when the message "insp" appears on a car? Read answer
    • Vari - Why doesn't the Becker Map Pilot start? Read answer
    • Vari - What problems does the Kymco Downtown 300i have? Read answer

How to Check the Oil Level on a Jeep Renegade?

To check the oil level on a Jeep Renegade, you need to open the bonnet to access the components inside the engine bay: on the lower left side of the engine block, you will find the dipstick for checking the level. This should be pulled out and thoroughly cleaned with a cloth: once cleaned, reinsert it back into its tube and pull it out immediately after. This way, you can check that the oil mark is between the minimum and maximum levels; finally, you can place the dipstick back in its tube.

Watch the video!


by ScegliAuto

More videos