Thermal shock tests are experiments conducted on an engine installed on a dyno, which aim to assess the influence of extreme temperatures of cooling liquid on engine operation, as well as assessing wear and thermal deformation of individual engine components.
During such tests, a glycol cooling medium is used, which is chilled to -35ºC using special apparatus. Next, through heat exchanger systems installed at the test bed, a thermal exchange occurs, which results in the engine cooling fluid reaching -30ºC and being distributed into the engine cooling system. Depending on the test cycle, the engine is heated up to 120ºC, and next its cooling sequence is repeated.