You’re driving, and your car’s temperature keeps rising. Turning up the heat might offer a temporary fix, but it doesn’t address the root problem. Ignoring an overheating engine can lead to serious damage, as Urb’s Garage warns. In some cases, engine issues can stem from worn-out components, making it important to recognise how to know when to replace timing belt to avoid costly repairs. Here are eight common reasons an engine overheats.
1. Coolant
If your engine coolant is too low, has leaked out of the cooling system completely, is not the right mix of coolant and water, or is the wrong coolant altogether, your vehicle will overheat constantly. Old and dirty coolant can also make your car, truck, crossover, or SUV run too hot.
2. Leaks
Low coolant is often caused by cooling system leaks. Depending on the size of the leak, you might notice coolant on your garage floor. Coolant can leak from the water pump seals and gaskets, radiator hoses, the radiator itself, and the heater core. It can also leak from the overflow reservoir.
3. Water Pump
The water pump pushes the coolant through the engine and it will wear down over time. Usually, a water pump must be replaced between 60,000 and 90,000 miles, but many go longer than that. If the pump breaks down or leaks, you won’t have enough coolant circulating through the engine.
4. Radiator
The older a radiator gets, the higher the chances of rust forming on the bottom. Since coolant continuously sits in the radiator, it can cause the metal to oxidize over time. Eventually, this rust may eat through the radiator’s bottom, leading to a coolant leak. Additionally, if the engine gets too hot, the radiator cap might blow, putting your entire cooling system at risk. If you notice signs of a leak or overheating, don’t wait—come to Urb’s Garage for radiator repair in Finneytown. Our expert team will inspect, repair, or replace your radiator to keep your vehicle running cool and efficiently.
5. Motor Oil
The cooling system isn’t the only thing that keeps your vehicle’s engine cool. The motor oil also absorbs heat as it circulates through the engine. Old and dirty motor oil will deposit gunk on the engine parts. This will damage the parts and also overheating the engine. Regular oil changes prevent this.
6. Thermostat
The thermostat is what gets the coolant circulating through the engine in the first place. Once the engine starts to get too hot, the thermostat releases the coolant. If your car has over 100,000 miles on it, the thermostat could be nearing the end of its life and it won’t release the coolant.
7. Fan/Air Intake
A radiator fan cools the coolant sitting in the radiator before it’s circulated through the engine again. Air is brought through a radiator vent to help cool the liquid, as well. If the fan malfunctions or the air intake vent is clogged, there won’t be enough air to reduce the coolant’s temperature.
8. Heater Core
Finally, the heater core uses hot engine coolant to heat your automobile. If the hoses that run through the core leak, your engine will lose coolant before it’s returned to the radiator. Once this happens, your engine will overheat because it doesn’t have enough coolant to reduce the temperature.
Call Urb’s Garage in Burlington, KY, today if your vehicle is overheating. We’ll fix the problem ASAP!
