Cooling system having shock reducing valve

A cooling system for an engine, comprising:

• a pump driven by the engine and configured to circulate coolant through the engine;
• a heat exchanger configured to receive coolant from the engine and to reduce a temperature of the coolant;
• a thermostat fluidly connected to the engine, the pump, and the heat exchanger, the thermostat configured to simultaneously direct coolant from the engine to the heat exchanger while substantially blocking passage of coolant from the engine to the pump when a temperature of the coolant is greater than a temperature threshold of the thermostat;
• and
• a valve fluidly connected to the engine and the heat exchanger, and connected in parallel with the thermostat, the valve configured to allow a portion of the coolant exiting the engine to pass through the valve to the heat exchanger when a pressure of the coolant is greater than a pressure threshold of the valve, and to substantially block passage of coolant to the heat exchanger when the pressure of the coolant is less than or equal to the pressure threshold.

A method of cooling an engine, comprising:

• receiving heated coolant from the engine;
• allowing a portion of the coolant from the engine to pass through a valve to a heat exchanger during a first operating condition, in response to a pressure of the coolant being greater than a threshold pressure;
• and
• directing, by a thermostat connected in parallel with the valve, a remainder of the coolant to a pump during the first operating condition, in response to a temperature of the coolant being less than or equal to a threshold temperature.