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Radiators are basically a heat exchanger. Coolant flows through your radiator, which is pumped by the water pump. As that engine coolant flows through your radiator, the incoming air (in front of the radiator) will flow over the coils of the radiator cooling the coolant. Fans also pull air through the radiator while the vehicle is stationary. Thermostats control the flow through the radiator. When a car is cold, the thermostat will be closed, keeping the coolant circulating through the motor. When the engine reaches the thermostat's operating temperature, it will open and then allow the hot engine coolant to flow through the radiator. If you remove the thermostat, the coolant may flow through the radiator too quickly, not allowing the heat from the coolant to be extracted out. Older model radiators where copper/brass, newer model radiators are aluminum core with plastic tanks. Automatic transmission model radiators also have a heat exchanger on the passenger side, which allows coolant to flow around the hot transmission fluid, to lower the transmission fluid temperature when hot. Air deflectors also help direct air through the radiator, so air doesn't flow around the radiator (since air will flow the easiest direction possible.