This document supersedes SAE J819 - Engine Cooling System Field Test. The purpose of this SAE Recommended Practice is to establish a testing procedure to determine the performance capability of the engine cooling systems, including charge air coolers on heavy-duty vehicles with liquid-cooled internal combustion engines. The definition of heavy vehicles for this document includes, but is not limited to, on and off highway trucks, cranes, drill rigs, construction, forestry and agricultural machines. Vehicles equipped with side or rear-mounted radiators may require an alternate procedure of a towing dynamometer because of peculiar aerodynamics.

Testing is generally conducted to determine compliance with cooling criteria established by the engine manufacturer or the end product user to meet a desired engine reliability goal.