Early automobiles, like the Benz Patent Motorwagen (1886), used air-cooled engines. Air cooling was simpler and cheaper than liquid cooling at the time. It was also seen as more reliable, as there was no risk of leaks or damage to the cooling system.
Liquid cooling became more prevalent in the early 20th century as engines became more powerful and efficient. However, air-cooled engines remained popular for smaller vehicles and motorcycles for many years, and are still used in some applications today.
