Common Reasons Your Car is Overheating
Your Coolant is Too Low
One of the most common causes of an overheating engine is your cooling system. Specifically, your coolant is likely too low and therefore cannot circulate well enough to regulate the temperature inside your engine as it should. The coolant absorbs heat from the engine, cycles through the radiator to cool off, then back through the engine to cool it off. If there’s not enough volume of coolant, it won’t be nearly as effective at doing that job.
You May Have a Cooling System Leak
Because your cooling system is a closed system, having low coolant levels almost certainly means you have a leak in the system. That means you can do a temporary fix by topping off the coolant in your car but you’ll still need to schedule an appointment with your mechanic to have the underlying problem diagnosed and repaired.
Your Water Pump is Broken
Another essential part of your cooling system is your water pump. A failing, inefficient, or broken water pump can be the result of a couple of things, including natural wear over time and dirty coolant. As it circulates, your coolant picks up dirt and other buildups that will gradually cause it to need replacing. At the same time, coolant that’s become too dirty can clog up the water pump and lead to less circulation than is necessary to properly cool the engine.
Without a Water Pump, Your Coolant Can’t Circulate
Your water pump is just as essential as an adequate coolant to keep your engine at a healthy temperature. If your water pump is failing or clogged, it won’t be able to properly circulate coolant , meaning your engine temperature will run increasingly high. It’s essential to get your car to an auto repair shop as soon as possible if you suspect this is causing your engine to overheat.
Your Radiator Fan is Failing
A third key part of your cooling system is your radiator fan. As the coolant circulates, it absorbs heat from your engine before cooling off in the radiator. If your radiator fan is failing, it won’t be able to adequately cool off coolant from the engine, leading to higher engine temperatures. Whenever your engine starts to overheat, your first step is to check the coolant level – but if that’s not low, it’s an indicator that either your water pump or radiator fan is wearing out and it’s time for a cooling system repair.
Your Engine Oil is Low
Another possible problem that’s easy to check yourself is the engine oil level. Over time, your car may burn off engine oil through use and if it’s been a while since your last oil change, your oil level can become too low. The primary use for engine oil is to lubricate the inner metal parts of your engine but it also aids in maintaining a healthy inside temperature for the engine.
Regular Oil Changes Keep Your Engine Healthy
The best way to keep this issue at bay is to keep up with regular car maintenance services like oil changes. It’s normal for engine oil to become dirty and contaminated over time but that means it should regularly be replaced with fresh oil. This has a dual benefit of both keeping parts of your engine well-lubricated and also maintaining the proper temperature.
You Have a Bad Thermostat
Finally, if your thermostat has failed or gotten stuck in a certain position, it can also cause your engine to overheat by incorrectly reading the internal temperature of your engine. Your thermostat judges when and how much coolant is necessary to circulate through your car’s engine to maintain temperature. This can also present itself as a fluctuating engine temperature on your dashboard.
Trust AAMCO Utah with Any Cooling System Repair
Any time you notice strange things happening with your engine temperature , it’s time to call in a trusted mechanic. At AAMCO Utah, our mechanics are experienced and knowledgeable in any issue you may experience with your car so you can rest assured it’s in good hands. If your car is overheating the point where you cannot safely drive it to one of our locations , we also offer free towing to your nearest location.
The post Common Reasons Your Car is Overheating first appeared on AAMCO Utah Transmission Repair and General Car Repair.
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