Why Is My Engine Overheating? Common Causes Explained?
Overheating of engines is the most common thing driver’s face in their day to day routine. Well one must be thinking why it happens? Your car’s engine operates under high pressure and temperature. Whether your car is brand new or running on a used engine, the car’s engine depends on the cooling system like water pump, radiator, coolant, fan so that it can run smoothly. When any part of this fails or is unable to perform the functioning properly it leads to an imbalance in temperature which leads to engine overheating. So let’s take a look at all the common car overheating causes so if you recognize them early you can take corrective action before things get more damaged.
Level of coolant is low
Coolant as the name says it is the fluid that circulates through the engine and radiator and helps in absorbing the heat and keeping it away from the engine block. It is very important to have coolant level in check as if the coolant level is low the cooling system will not do its job.
Common signs to keep in mind
- Don’t ignore warning lights on dashboard
- Leaking of coolant is visible
- Rising temperature gauge
Leaking of coolant
Always have this in mind that even if the coolant level appears adequate, there are chances that there might be some internal leaking that results in performance reduction as there are chances that coolant might escape from the water pump, radiator or any other component.
Malfunctioning of thermostat
Thermostat is responsible for regulating coolant flow between engine and radiator. In case it got stuck in the closed position that results in stopping of coolant circulation and ultimately due to inadequate supply of coolant the engine’s temperature will rise rapidly.
Issue of radiator
The main work of the radiator is to disappear heat coming from coolant. In case it is corroded, clogged or blocked by debris it results in reduction of airflow and thus systems are not able to cool the engine as per needed. A radiator cap that is faulty is unable to hold the pressure leading to overheating of engine
Failure of water pump
Water pump is the most critical component that prevents overheating. It is responsible for circulating coolant throughout the engine and the radiator. A failing or broken pump is one of the more serious engine overheating causes as it can entirely shut down whole cooling circulation.
Defect in cooling fan
As the name says, a cooling fan comes in use in the case of stop and go traffic. In case this fails due to a broken fan motor, temperature or faulty relay it results in overheating and adds up as engine overheating causes.
Coolant hoses are clogged or collapsed
Coolant hoses can collapse internally with time and often become clogged due to debris. In such cases flow gets restricted due to which heat can’t be properly carried away from the engine. Hoses that feel excessively hard, soft or swollen need to get checked in case they require replacement.
Air pocket in the cooling system
Always take a close look after repairs and coolant change as sometimes there are chances that air can get trapped in the system. These air pockets act as localized hotspots that prevent coolant from moving freely. You can prevent this by having a professional bleed the cooling system or by doing proper refill.
Blown head gasket
It is one of the most severe engine overheating causes, a blown head gasket is responsible for allowing the coolant to leak into the engine block or mixing of coolant and oil. This not only results in disruption of engine temperature but also affects compression, performance and emissions. One can prevent it with coman signs including smoke from exhaust or milky oil on the dipstick; these can be signs that, if detected early, can save you from whole engine replacement.
Final thoughts
Knowing leading engine overheating causes and early detection can help you to make informed decisions and can save you from spending on costly repairs. It can be anything leaking a hose, a failed water pump or just the air trapped in the system, early detection can save you from hassle and also prevent your vehicle’s health. So keep a regular check on the coolant level and take the vehicle on regular maintenance and take care of the overall health of the vehicle.
FAQ’s
What causes a car to overheat?
A car mainly overheats due to the issue in the cooling system like low coolant level, broken, water pump or radiator problem. These problems don’t let the heat escape from the engine resulting in rise of temperature beyond safe level.
Why is my car overheating?
Your car’s engine temperature depends on many factors like thermostat, water pump, radiator and cooling fan so failure of any of these can result in overheating of the car. even when the coolant is present. Working of these components is necessary for regulating engine’s temperature.
Why is my engine overheating even though the coolant is full?
If your car’s engine is overheating even when the coolant is full then the issue can be a failing water pump, stuck thermostat, blocked radiator or might be trapped air in the cooling system, they are not letting proper circulation of coolant result in overheating.