Why Does My Car Overheat?
7 most Common cause of Car Overheating.
1. Someone Forgot to Check the Coolant or Somethings Leaking
Coolant, which is also known as Antifreeze, is a half and half mixture of water and ethylene that is used in engines to make the freezing points of water-based liquids colder and their boiling points higher.
causes of car overheating
Low levels of coolant can be due to leaks in the cooling system hoses that allows the antifreeze to flow into the engine.
Another cause of leaks is the lack of maintenance or improper maintenance. be sure to routinely check your coolant levels before any long road trips.
2. The Engine Needs More Air from the Radiator Fan:
The Cooling or Radiator fan is located in front of, or sometimes in back of the radiator so that it can blow cool air onto the radiator.
The air keeps the temperature of the engine low which keeps the engine happy.
Radiator fan replacements tend to be complex, so you may choose to take it to a professional.
3. The Thermostat Won't Let the Antifreeze Through:
A thermostat has two main functions, first to keep coolant from getting to the system when it's cold and second, the thermostat opens a chamber which lets the coolant get to the system to make sure the engine doesn't get to hot.
It does this by monitoring the temperature of the engine and then opening once the engine gets to around 200 degrees, 95 degrees fahrenheit.
4. There's a Belt(so ) or Chain That Needs to Be Checked or Replaced:
There are two types of belts that need to be checked.
Timing Belt and Chains:
The purpose of the timing belt, chain, or gears is to turn the camshaft in your engine in time with the crankshaft.
This allows the camshaft to open and close valves in perfect time so that the engine performs at it's highest level.
A serpentine belt is a long single belt used to drive the water pump among many other components. The water pump is imperative to keeping the engine cool and running properly.
Typically you can tell if you have a belt problem before you even lift the hood because there will be an annoying squeak every time your engine runs.
These belts are usually checked and replaced with routine tune-ups and when done consistently rarely cause problems unless they were installed too loose or too tight.
5. The Radiator isn't Working Properly:
car overheating causes
The main purpose of a radiator is to act as a heat exchanger and transfer heat through thin fins that are brazed to flattened tubes.
Most radiator are made from aluminum and through normal wear and tear can form cracks which allows coolant and water to seep through causing a leak.
When you see steam pouring from the engine, it's coming from the fluids inside the radiator.
Remember, an engine is overheating because it is HOT so wait until the engine cools before touching anything.
6. The Water Pump Isn't Pumping:
water pumps keep the coolant circulating between the radiator and the engine. It is arguably the heart of the cooling system because it keeps all the proper liquids flowing. When the water pump fails coolant stays pooled in it's tank and the engine temperature climbs up until it overheats.
7. Ignoring the Low Oil Light:
This last one may seem like a no brainer, but overheating due to lack of oil happens more times then you think.
Oil lubricates all the rumbling, mashing and smashing parts of your engine that allows combustion to power the engine to run.
Without oil these same parts begin to cause friction that heats the engine to dangerous levels. There is no amount of coolant that will stop the destruction that a lack of oil can cause.
Conclusion
Overheating always seems to happen at the worst time in the worst possible place. The good news is that armed with a little knowledge, an overheating car can become a rare occurrence. The biggest tip would be to make sure to keep your car running well.
Whether you do it yourself or have someone else do it, make sure to take just a little extra time to be thorough and you'll be sure to save yourself a lot of heartache and sweat.
Thanks for reading and be sure to leave your questions and comments below and tell me if this knowledge has helped
1. Someone Forgot to Check the Coolant or Somethings Leaking
Coolant, which is also known as Antifreeze, is a half and half mixture of water and ethylene that is used in engines to make the freezing points of water-based liquids colder and their boiling points higher.
causes of car overheating
Low levels of coolant can be due to leaks in the cooling system hoses that allows the antifreeze to flow into the engine.
Another cause of leaks is the lack of maintenance or improper maintenance. be sure to routinely check your coolant levels before any long road trips.
2. The Engine Needs More Air from the Radiator Fan:
The Cooling or Radiator fan is located in front of, or sometimes in back of the radiator so that it can blow cool air onto the radiator.
The air keeps the temperature of the engine low which keeps the engine happy.
Radiator fan replacements tend to be complex, so you may choose to take it to a professional.
3. The Thermostat Won't Let the Antifreeze Through:
A thermostat has two main functions, first to keep coolant from getting to the system when it's cold and second, the thermostat opens a chamber which lets the coolant get to the system to make sure the engine doesn't get to hot.
It does this by monitoring the temperature of the engine and then opening once the engine gets to around 200 degrees, 95 degrees fahrenheit.
4. There's a Belt(so ) or Chain That Needs to Be Checked or Replaced:
There are two types of belts that need to be checked.
Timing Belt and Chains:
The purpose of the timing belt, chain, or gears is to turn the camshaft in your engine in time with the crankshaft.
This allows the camshaft to open and close valves in perfect time so that the engine performs at it's highest level.
A serpentine belt is a long single belt used to drive the water pump among many other components. The water pump is imperative to keeping the engine cool and running properly.
Typically you can tell if you have a belt problem before you even lift the hood because there will be an annoying squeak every time your engine runs.
These belts are usually checked and replaced with routine tune-ups and when done consistently rarely cause problems unless they were installed too loose or too tight.
5. The Radiator isn't Working Properly:
car overheating causes
The main purpose of a radiator is to act as a heat exchanger and transfer heat through thin fins that are brazed to flattened tubes.
Most radiator are made from aluminum and through normal wear and tear can form cracks which allows coolant and water to seep through causing a leak.
When you see steam pouring from the engine, it's coming from the fluids inside the radiator.
Remember, an engine is overheating because it is HOT so wait until the engine cools before touching anything.
6. The Water Pump Isn't Pumping:
water pumps keep the coolant circulating between the radiator and the engine. It is arguably the heart of the cooling system because it keeps all the proper liquids flowing. When the water pump fails coolant stays pooled in it's tank and the engine temperature climbs up until it overheats.
7. Ignoring the Low Oil Light:
This last one may seem like a no brainer, but overheating due to lack of oil happens more times then you think.
Oil lubricates all the rumbling, mashing and smashing parts of your engine that allows combustion to power the engine to run.
Without oil these same parts begin to cause friction that heats the engine to dangerous levels. There is no amount of coolant that will stop the destruction that a lack of oil can cause.
Conclusion
Overheating always seems to happen at the worst time in the worst possible place. The good news is that armed with a little knowledge, an overheating car can become a rare occurrence. The biggest tip would be to make sure to keep your car running well.
Whether you do it yourself or have someone else do it, make sure to take just a little extra time to be thorough and you'll be sure to save yourself a lot of heartache and sweat.
Thanks for reading and be sure to leave your questions and comments below and tell me if this knowledge has helped
Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice,well done for posting this . I am and always have been for my 46 years of driving very mechanically minded (inherited) so I have known all this for many years. A-CEART.COM
ReplyDeleteIt good to know. thanks we appreciate and we hope other drivers will be enlightened as well.
DeleteOverheating of your car may damage it totally. It is creating a huge problem if you ignore it's maintenance. So be aware of its service and take proper action in order to overcome the problem of failure of your vehicle. Check level of coolant properly if it is below the safety value fill it with adequate quality and amount of coolant. This is primary and basic maintenance of the vehicle to keep it free from the risk of over heating. You may also implement good condition of radiator for flow of fresh air in to the vehicle engine.
ReplyDeleteI was more than happy to uncover this great site. I need to to thank you for your time due to this fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it and I have you bookmarked to see new information on your blog. Overheating Vehicle
ReplyDelete