Having a car that overheats can be a big problem, especially if it leaves you stranded somewhere. It governs the coolant to ensure the engine gets what it needs at the right time. yellow car, a honda japanese sport car model image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com. Most older cars are more likely to overheat if run in sweltering weather (90 degrees Fahrenheit and over). If your engine overheats, it spells trouble. Clogged, damaged, cracked, or loose hoses can cause leaking in the coolant, obstructing its flow leading to overheating. Usually, the cooling system has a problem releasing heat generated by the engine to the outside air. Below are the top 5 causes of car overheating. It’s rare with modern vehicles, but even a well-tuned automobile can overheat. Just as your body needs to remain within its core temperature range to complete vita functions, so too does your car’s engine. There are a number of causes for engines overheating but let's look at some of the most common ones. At high flow rates the low-pressure side of the water pump can cause the radiator hose to collapse, restricting flow. If your temperature light comes on or you see steam or smoke while driving, pull over and turn off your engine immediately. Your car overheating is the end result if it isn’t fixed in time. You can check man of those on the road on your own. Don’t forget to store food, water, and blankets as well in case your car overheats and you need to wait for help. Without the cooling system, the engine would very easily overheat and cause your entire vehicle to malfunction. Low Coolant. Most auto experts say that damage to the mechanical components of the vehicle will occur if the engine becomes hotter than 240°F. ASC Industries have conducted a study on the common causes of overheating when it comes to cars. #5. Your water pump moves the engine coolant through your cooling system, which absorbs the heat and passes it on to the radiator. A Faulty Thermostat. You can check your belts and hoses on your own, but it’s also good to look at them whenever you change your oil. The good people at Napa say another reason your car could be overheating is a not completely sealed cooling system. Shorts in the wingdings cause them to overheat, insulation failure from hot surroundings leakage of cooling oil and possible worn out spark gaps that require higher firing voltages. Your belts and hoses contribute to the cooling system, charging system, and air conditioning by distributing power appropriately. The cooling system does just that by pushing the heat away from the engine and outside your vehicle. Problems with your water pump (and subsequent issues with your cooling system) contribute to overheating issues. If it malfunctions, it impairs the coolant's flow, causing your car to … Motor oil minimizes the friction between the engine’s moving parts, which in turn manages the temperature. Why is my car overheating? Cars overheat most often in very hot weather. Before you embark on any long-distance driving, make sure your oil and coolant levels are suitable for the road. Your engine depends on coolant liquid (also known as antifreeze) to cool down your engine. Low coolant levels, faulty thermostats, water pump leaks, and damaged belts can also cause your engine to overheat. Car Alarm Keeps Going Off? If in doubt, protect yourself and your vehicle by calling a tow truck. This eventually means leaks and losing coolant which will cause car overheating. The phenomenon is far less common among newer vehicles, but in some cases, your engine only needed a break to cool down. Ideally, you should also store the items you need to complete this task in your car. How To Keep Your Car Cool: What To Do When Your Car Overheats, Check Your Fluid Levels Before Any Long Trips, Regular Maintenance Is The Antidote To Overheating, Fram Oil Filter Review: Assessing the Performance of This Well Known Brand, An Easy Step-by-Step Guide on How to Bleed Brakes by Yourself, Best Spark Plugs: Top 7 Performance You Can Buy. The components of a car’s engine will generate a lot of heat while they’re moving and rotating. It’s a serious condition and can cause damage to the head-gasket or warping of the cylinder head. You’ll want to wait until the car cools or the temperature drops to cool, check to make sure the road conditions are safe, and then get out. Be prepared, and save yourself the hassle by reading up to find out how to stop your car overheating issues quickly and easily! Some of these reasons your engine overheats are easy fixes that you can do at home, but others require the keen eye of your mechanic. While the hood is up, check on your hoses, particularly the upper and lower radiator hoses. How do you know if your oil needs a top up? If you spot steam pouring out of the radiator and a leak under the front of the car (coolant, not water), then you have a water pump problem. Engines can overheat for many reasons. It can be stuck shut, it can be stuck open, it can be partially open, it could be opening at the wrong temperature and it could just come apart and be broken. Let’s go back to the reasons your car can overheat. The Most Common Causes of Cars Overheating. Inadequate Cooling System; Your car cooling system is yet another factor to observe if your car overheats when AC is on. Common problems that cause a car engine to overheat include: Low coolant level or no engine coolant, Bad engine temperature sensor, Coolant leak, Loose radiator hose clamps or broken fitting, Bad water pump, Clogged radiator, Cracked radiator, A stuck thermostat … We may also earn commissions on purchases from other retail websites. However, belts and hoses are common causes of overheating that are easy to spot, maintain, and replace. The car cooling system helps to keep the AC condenser cool while your air conditioner is one. What does low oil do to a car?” Facing uncertainty of this kind on the road is scary — especially in the often congested traffic of Sugarland, Stafford, and the rest of the greater Houston area. If you don’t know where your coolant (or antifreeze) reservoir is, check your owner’s manual or use Google. First, check your coolant level as described above. That is why it is important that you catch this problem in time before it gets too bad. Unfortunately, most people ignore the initial problem and end up paying much more for extensive damage as a result. A vehicle’s thermostat is responsible for regulating the amount of coolant flowing through the engine. They found out that one of the main reasons is the coolant concentration being wrong or low. A coolant leak can occur when a foreign object is kicked up by the truck in front of you and penetrates the radiator. Read These Nine Quick Fix Tips on How to Patch a Tire, Spirit A8 Car Jump Starter Review: How It Compares With Other Brands, The Best Portable Air Pump for Car Tires: 10 Selections to Keep Your Wheels Inflated, What Does An O2 Sensor Do? Fix it immediately to avoid cooling system failure. If at any point you feel that driving is no longer safe, pull over and call roadside assistance. Don’t immediately hop out and pop the hood. Three out of four of the noted issues related either directly or indirectly to the cooling system. Any problems with the pump from erosion, leaks or anything else can cause your vehicle to overheat. If coolant levels are lower than the manufacturer’s recommendation, refill or top off the levels with new coolant/antifreeze. Your engine features a thermostat that measures temperatures and regulates your cooling system according to what it sees. Oil leaks are another common culprit and require both repairs and regular oil top ups in the interim. A malfunctioning head gasket can cause overheating. Low coolant is one of the most common causes of engine overheating. Find a safe place to pull over and turn off your engine. Plus, you will risk your safety as well as the safety of other drivers on the road. If you worry about the cost of a tow truck, know that replacing your engine will always cost most. Why does my Car Overheat Quickly when I'm at a High RPM? Is your engine still acting up? It will cause incredible, irrev​​ersible damage to your engine. 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