Liquid vs. air cooling course for motorcycles
Online course of 300 hours in liquid versus air cooling in motorcycles. 6 modules covering engine heat transfer, air cooling, liquid cooling, technical comparison of solutions and thermal diagnosis and maintenance, with Regulation (EU) No 168/2013, Delegated Regulation (EU) No 134/2014 and ANSYS Fluent, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Calculate the thermal balance of a motorcycle engine.
Compare the behaviour of air and liquid cooling.
Carry out preliminary sizing of radiators and fin surfaces.
Select suitable coolants according to specification.
Diagnose faults in the cooling circuit.
Apply thermography to engine analysis.
Justify the choice of cooling system for a specific model.
Who it's for
- Engine thermal engineers.
- Motorcycle maintenance technicians wanting a deeper understanding of cooling systems.
- Product engineers.
- Test bench technicians.
- Racing mechanics.
- Technical service advisers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter motorcycle manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 (approval of two- and three-wheel vehicles)
- Delegated Regulation (EU) No 134/2014 (environmental and propulsion performance requirements)
- UNECE Regulation No 41 (motorcycle noise)
- ASTM D3306 (glycol-based engine coolants)
- JIS K 2234 (engine antifreeze coolants)
- ISO 1585 (engine net power test code)
- SAE J1349 (engine power test code)
- ANSYS Fluent
- SolidWorks Flow Simulation
- GT-SUITE
- FLIR Thermal Studio
- MATLAB
6 modules
1.1Energy balance of the combustion engine1.2Conduction through cylinder and cylinder head1.3Forced convection in fins and ducts1.4Critical piston and valve temperatures1.5Heat flux by engine speed and load1.6Expansion and running clearances1.7Hot spots and knock1.8Influence of climate and altitude1.9Rejected heat versus useful power1.10Workshop: thermal balance of a single-cylinder engine
2.1Fin design and heat exchange surface2.2Airflow with the motorcycle in motion2.3Problems at low speed and in traffic jams2.4BMW air-cooled boxer2.5Suzuki SACS air-oil cooling2.6Auxiliary oil cooler2.7Forced-air fans in scooters2.8Mechanical noise of engines without a water jacket2.9Weight and simplicity advantages2.10Case study: diagnosing overheating in an air-cooled engine
3.1Circuit with pump, thermostat and radiator3.2Water jackets in cylinder and cylinder head3.3Wax thermostat and opening temperature3.4Electric fan and its control3.5Expansion tank and circuit pressure3.6Partial liquid cooling in the cylinder head3.7BMW water-cooled boxer3.8Ethylene glycol and organic coolants3.9Bleeding the circuit and air pockets3.10Practical: coolant replacement and bleeding
4.1Specific power achievable by each solution4.2Emissions control and thermal stability4.3Weight, cost and complexity4.4Noise and sound compliance4.5Reliability under extreme use4.6Maintenance over the service life4.7Aesthetic design and customer perception4.8Historical evolution driven by Euro regulations4.9Selection by motorcycle segment4.10Case study: decision matrix for a new model
5.1Reading the engine temperature sensor5.2Circuit pressure test5.3Checking the cap and thermostat5.4Head gasket leaks5.5Cleaning the radiator and fins5.6Oil degraded by temperature5.7Infrared thermography applied to the engine5.8Logging temperatures on track5.9Typical faults by model5.10Lab: thermography of an idling engine
6.1Defining the engine and its use6.2Estimating the heat to be dissipated6.3Choosing between air and liquid6.4Sizing the radiator or fins6.5Location in the chassis and airflow6.6Selecting pump, thermostat and fan6.7Thermal validation plan6.8Cost and maintenance analysis6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Fluent, SolidWorks Flow Simulation, GT-SUITE, FLIR Thermal Studio and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures: thermal comparisons on a chassis dynamometer, overheating diagnosis in the workshop and thermography of running engines. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) No 168/2013, Delegated Regulation (EU) No 134/2014, UNECE Regulation No 41, ASTM D3306, JIS K 2234, ISO 1585, SAE J1349.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with ANSYS Fluent, SolidWorks Flow Simulation, GT-SUITE, FLIR Thermal Studio and MATLAB, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer that can run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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