ASE Certification Training Headquarters

Online ASE Certification Training and Career Center

Welcome to ASE Certification Training Headquarters! We have everything you need to make your life easier as you begin your career as an Automotive Service Excellence Certified Master Mechanic. State specific training requirements, a step-by-step hiring process, potential employers, and interviews to help you get hired are just some of the helpful things you'll find here.

Engine Lubrication & Cooling Systems

Lubrication System

All engines contain moving and sliding parts that must be kept lubricated to reduce wear and friction. The oil pan, bolted to the bottom of the engine block, holds 4 to 7 quarts (4 to 7 liters) of oil.

An oil pump, which is driven by the engine, forces the oil through the oil filter and then into passages in the crankshaft and block. These passages are called oil galleries. The oil is also forced up to the valves and then falls down through openings in the cylinder head and block, then back into the oil pan.

Combustion Engine Lubrication System Diagram

Here is a typical lubrication system, showing the oil pan, oil pump, oil filter, and oil passages

Cooling Systems

All engines must have a cooling system to control engine temperatures. While some older engines were air cooled, all current production passenger vehicle engines are cooled by circulating antifreeze coolant through passages in the block and cylinder head.

Combustion Engine Coolant System Diagram

The coolant temperature is controlled by the thermostat

The coolant picks up the heat from the engine and after the thermostat opens, the water pump circulates the coolant through the radiator where the excess heat is released to the outside air, cooling the coolant. The coolant is continuously circulated through the cooling system and the temperature is controlled by the thermostat.

The coolant temperature is controlled by the thermostat, which opens and allows coolant to flow to the radiator when the temperature reaches the rating temperature of the thermostat.

Next Steps towards ASE Certification

Now that you’re familiar with Combustion Engine Lubrication & Coolant Systems, try out our free Automotive Service Excellence Tests to see how much you know!