Is your car overheating? There are many reasons why the temperature rapidly increases and causes your car to overheat. Some overheating issues require a quick fix, and others will need the attention of a qualified technician. Below are the most common causes of overheating.
1. Cooling System Issues
When your engine overheats, the cause is often a failing cooling system that draws heat away from the engine. Regular car maintenance is crucial to keep the cooling system properly working to prevent overheating and severe damage to your car.
2. Low Coolant Levels
If there’s not enough coolant, your car will overheat. Check the coolant regularly and top it off to the manufacturer’s recommended levels. It’s also vital to replace the coolant at the recommended intervals because when it gets old, it won’t effectively perform the task of cooling. You’ll find the information, the proper method for refilling the coolant, and the recommended coolant replacement intervals in your owner’s manual.
3. Leaking Coolant
Puddles on the ground under your car and an empty coolant reservoir tank are ways to tell if your vehicle is leaking coolant. Coolant is green, orange, or blue, depending on the type, and has a sweet smell.
4. Low Engine Oil
Oil is a lubricant, but it also helps to control your engine’s temperature by minimizing friction. If there is not enough oil in your car, the friction will increase, generating excessive heat that will damage your engine.
5. A Failing Thermostat
The thermostat regulates the coolant and keeps the engine at ideal temperatures. A broken or failing thermostat will cause irregular temperature fluctuations and overheating.
6. A Broken Water Pump
Your car’s water pump circulates coolant throughout the cooling system. The coolant absorbs the heat, and the water pump circulates it through the hoses to the radiator, which extracts the heat before it flows back. If the coolant is old or dirty, or there’s a leak, the coolant can’t move freely through the system, and your car overheats.
7. Radiator Problems
The radiator pulls heat away from the engine and is a vital cooling system. If there’s a problem with the radiator, your engine will overheat. Your radiator and fans reduce heat by lowering the temperature of the coolant. When the fans are not properly working, it reduces the radiator’s capability to remove the heat, increasing the temperature.
8. Cracked or Blocked Hoses and Worn or Frayed Belts
Coolant hoses that are cracked, blocked, and leaking or frayed and worn belts prevent air and coolant from flowing to and from the engine and related systems. If the problem is not dealt with quickly, it may lead to severe engine damage.
When your engine overheats, it’s a serious problem, and identifying the cause fast and repairing it will help prevent severe damage to your engine and other essential components. If your car is overheating, stop at DARCARS Used Car and Service Center of Frederick today, and we will expertly repair your car’s cooling system problems.
Connect with us
