febi Truck Thermal management brochure ENG

Commercial Vehicle Spare Parts

by febi

Ferdinand Bilstein is one of the world's leading suppliers and manufacturers of repair solutions for commercial vehicles and passenger cars.

The company has been producing spare parts for trucks, trailers, semitrailers and buses since 1951. Thanks to the extensive product portfolio ­created by a team of experienced sales and support staff and product ­managers, the Truck division of Ferdinand Bilstein is in a position to offer ­tailor-made solutions for every customer. The febi brand is firmly established in the automotive aftermarket. In the commercial vehicle sector, it has a leading market position in the core competencies of steering and suspension, rubber-to-metal parts and engine thermal management.

With a selection of more than 10,000 spare parts and 21,500 applications in OE matching quality, febi Truck ensures the optimum availability of commercial vehicle components for all popular European brands (the "BIG 7").

One part of the range is manufactured at our in-house production facility, e.g. king pins and sets, clutch release forks as well as oil and water pumps. The applicable demanding quality requirements for the production of precision parts are transferred consistently to all partner manufacturers.

ENGINE THERMAL MANAGEMENT

HOT-COLD PERFECTION

Heating and cooling in equal measure: This broadly outlines the tasks of modern thermal management systems. The combustion process taking place in the engine generates heat that must be dissipated efficiently to prevent damage to engine components due to overheating.

A mixture of water and antifreeze is used in liquid cooled engines. This coolant circulates in a closed system. Particular attention must always be paid to the mixture ratio in order to ensure that cooling, as well as protection against frost damage and corrosion in the cooling system and engine, function properly. Damage or leaks in the components of this cooling system, e.g. at the radiator, thermostat or radiator hoses, can result in substantial engine damage.

Use of high-quality engine thermal management components can prevent this in the long run and lead to lengthening of the engine service life as well as reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.

febi components impress with a long service life, excellent ­fitting accuracy and fulfilment of all OE manufacturer requirements.

febi counts on the highest levels of precision in the in-house production of truck spare parts. Thanks to the use of fully automatic machines, digital measuring technology and 100% leaktightness tests, as well as strict adherence to tolerances, we ensure trustworthy OE matching quality. Around 21,000 commercial water pumps alone are manufactured annually on our CNC machines.

In order to ensure that the engine thermal management system functions reliably, the service intervals prescribed by the vehicles manufacturer must always be adhered to.

COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS

EFFECTIVE TEAMPLAY

With a broad range of components for regulating the optimum cooling circuit, febi Truck provides the widest coverage in the area of engine thermal management in the automotive aftermarket:

•

Radiator Hoses

Page 20

Thermostats • Page 10

Coolant Expansion Tanks • Page 14

Sealing Caps

• Page 14

Water Pumps • Page 8

Radiator • Page 12

Fan Blades • Page 16

Fan Coupling • Page 16

WATER PUMP

AT THE HEART OF THE COOLING SYSTEM

The water pump performs arguably the most important task in liquid cooling of the engine. It generates the coolant circulation. The coolant absorbs the heat from hot components, e.g. from the engine block or cylinder head. Then it is pumped on further to the radiator. Here the heat is removed from the coolant by the air flow or the fan and transferred to the surrounding air.

COOL FACTS

• Manufacturer competence –“Made by febi”

• Long service life thanks to use of high-quality components, such as slide seal rings from original equipment supplier KACO

In general, the water pump is driven by the belt drive via the auxiliary belt. Consequently all adjacent components, such as tensioner and idler pulleys, must also be inspected in the event of water pump repairs. These additional components must always be taken into account when preparing a repair calculation.

A LOCK ON THE COOLANT CIRCUITS

The engine cooling system is subdivided into a large cooling circuit and a small cooling circuit. If the engine is cold, no additional cooling is required and the thermostat disconnects the radiator from the cooling circuit. When the engine heats up, the thermostat enables access to the radiator, i.e. to the large cooling circuit. This principle allows the engine to reach its operating temperature more quickly after a cold start.

The switching temperature of a thermostat depends on the engine design and application area (desert, temperate latitudes) and is normally approx. 80° Celsius. The expansion element ensures enabling/disabling of access to the radiator.

COOL FACTS

• Large range of thermostats with and without venting

• Various designs with special switching temperatures for hot or cold regions

RADIATOR

JUST KEEP COOL

Similarly structured to a central heating radiator, the cooling system radiator is located at the front end of the vehicle (if the vehicle design permits this), where the surrounding air can flow through it. The coolant heated by the engine flows through the radiator, where heat is released to the air flow or surrounding air via the radiator fins. The cooled coolant heads back from the radiator to the engine to once again absorb heat and dissipate it from the engine.

COOL FACTS

• Secure packaging reduces transport damage

• Sturdy design, also for extreme off-road use

• High cooling capacity combined with low weight

COOLANT EXPANSION TANK

HANDLES PRESSURE WITHOUT A HITCH

All materials and operating fluids of an engine cooling system are exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations. In cold winter weather, the engine starts at sub-zero temperatures and in some areas it reaches an operating temperature of more than 100° Celsius.

The system coolant level fluctuates correspondingly. Furthermore, when the cooling system warms up, an overpressure of more than 1 bar is generated and, when it cools down, a slight vacuum. The radiator cap plays a decisive role here: With its pressure relief valve, it protects the cooling system from excessive overpressure and equalises the vacuum generated when the system cools down.

COOL FACTS

• High-grade material consisting of environmentally friendly, extremely sturdy and resilient polypropylene (plastic)

• Good heat-resistance for lasting durability

• Available as reservoir alone or complete with cap and sensor

HAND IN GLOVE WITH THE RADIATOR

The fan clutch is the hub of the radiator fan. It not only accommodates the fan, it also transmits drive force from the engine to the fan as required. If the engine is cold, less drive force is transmitted to the fan. If the engine is hot, air is sucked through the radiator at full power.

In older vehicles, there are still fan clutches that are not controlled electronically. Their internal mechanism consists of two discs separated by a liquid (silicone oil). One disc is driven by the engine, the other is connected to the fan blade. If cooling is required, a bimetal spring ensures that the liquid between the discs transmits the rotational force from one disc to the other by means of adhesion.

The more modern version is an electronically controlled fan coupling, which is as much a part of a modern thermal management system as the switched water pump. In terms

of design, it operates similarly, although the roughly regulated bimetal spring is replaced by the fine control of the engine control unit. This precise, requirement-oriented regulation saves fuel and reduces the environmental impact.

COOL FACTS

• Distribution partner for Borg Warner

• Fan blades balanced for vibration-free running

• Special material ensures reliable operation at extremly high and low temperatures

• For quick and efficient repairs, febi also supplies the fan coupling and fan blades individually

FOR OPTIMAL COLD TRANSFER

febi offers a wide assortment of liquids and lubricants for all popular models of European commercial vehicle manufacturers. Our products are matched precisely with the manu­facturers' requirements and offer an outstanding alternative matching OE quality.

Our antifreeze agents not only protect against freezing at low temperatures, they also feature a high level of corrosion protection. Furthermore, they extend the service life of the water pump and thermostat, ensure that seals and hoses remain flexible and keep the performance of the cooling system constant.

COOL FACTS

• High antifreeze, corrosion and cavitation protection

• Prevention of deposits and foaming

• Meet or exceed the requirements of vehicle manufacturers

RADIATOR HOSES

THE COOLING SYSTEM ARTERIES

Due to internal temperatures exceeding 100° Celsius, pulsating fluctuations in the engine and chemical additives from outside (coolant, oil, fuel, etc.), radiator hoses are highly stressed. If a radiator hose develops a leak, the affected vehicle loses coolant, resulting in extreme cases in devastating consequences for the engine due to overheating.

Thanks to their precise fit and particularly high resilience, febi radiator hoses are characterised by lasting durability. The specially selected hose clamps with tension springs also ensure optimum compensation for thermal expansion during driving operation and thereby ensuring secure fastening of the radiator hose.

At febi, all radiator hoses and hose clamps are available individually or as ProKits.

COOL FACTS

• Hose clamps including tension springs to ensure optimum compensation for thermal expansion

• High dimensional accuracy for troublefree installation and perfect sealing

• High-grade woven material for dimensional stability and longevity

• Hose clamps for all purposes in the febi hose clamp case

The

current febi Truck range comprises 20 groups of products