Why Is Your Car Overheating?- 6 Possible Causes

Today’s cars have sophisticated cooling systems equipped with multiple heat sensors and computer-controlled electric fans designed to keep your engine running in any weather. But overheating can still happen.

Why Do Engines Overheat?

Engines can overheat for many reasons. In general, it’s because something’s wrong within the cooling system and heat isn’t able to escape the engine compartment.

The source of the issue could include a cooling system leak, faulty radiator fan, broken water pump, or clogged coolant hose.

Regardless of the problem’s source, an overheating engine isn’t something you want to let linger. Your engine could sustain serious, if not permanent, damage.

Signs Your Engine is Overheating

If you’re able to take steps to cool your engine before it overheats to the point of failing, you may reduce the risk of irreversible engine damage. But first, you’ve got to notice the symptoms of overheating, which can include:

• A strange, sweet smell coming from the engine area (this could be the scent of leaking radiator fluid, otherwise known as coolant or antifreeze).
• Steam that may look like smoke coming from under the hood.
• The engine temperature gauge needle spikes to H (“hot”) or moves into the red (symbols may vary, so check your owner’s manual to familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s temperature gauge).
• An illuminated “Check Engine” or “Temperature” light on your instrument cluster.

As soon as you notice the engine overheating, take the following steps and contact your nearest repair shop.

Causes Of Car Overheating

There are a variety of reasons why a vehicle’s engine can overheat. Certain examples may be quicker fixes, such as refilling your antifreeze, but other issues may be more permanent if not properly taken care of by a professional.

Below are common factors that can cause a car to overheat:

#1. Too little or no coolant.

One of the most common reasons a car can overheat is because the coolant level is low in the radiator or has become dirty and needs to be flushed out and substituted with fresh coolant.

Driving without proper levels of coolant/antifreeze may cause a coolant system failure. If coolant levels are lower than the manufacturer’s recommendation, refill or top off the levels with new coolant/antifreeze.

When adding new coolant to an empty reservoir use only a 50/50 mix of antifreeze/coolant and water. If you are unsure where the coolant reservoir tank is located, or the proper method for refilling it, refer to your vehicle owner’s manual.

#2. cooling system leaks.

A car’s cooling system is in charge of regulating heat coming from the engine. It does this by circulating coolant through the hot zones around the engine block and cylinder heads and then back to the radiator.

When coolant leaks from the system, the temperature of your engine will climb and, eventually, overheat. A coolant leak can come from a faulty hose, worn-out gasket, cracked engine block, and even damage to the radiator.

Keeping up with regular inspections and maintenance is the best way to avoid coolant leak issues and damage from an overheated engine.

#3. A broken water pump.

Coolant doesn’t circulate all on its own. A car’s coolant system uses a water pump to push coolant around the working engine. So, when the water pump goes kaput, it will disrupt the coolant flow and lead to overheating.

One part to watch out for is a water pump’s impeller, a spinning fan-like component that pushes the coolant through the passages of the cooling system. Problems arise when an old or worn-down impeller gets blocked or stops rotating altogether.

And without the flow of coolant, your engine temperature can skyrocket fast. When a water pump fails in this way, it will need to be replaced.

#4. Radiator issues.

When it comes to your vehicle’s cooling system, think of the radiator as the command center. A coolant and water mixture are constantly circulated from the radiator to the engine to absorb excess heat.

Then, when the coolant returns to the radiator, it uses a series of fins to cool down and extract heat out of the coolant/water mixture.

How can a radiator go bad? Blocked passages can cut off the flow of coolant, so heat can’t transfer away from the engine. Damaged or bent radiator fins can make it more difficult for the radiator to extract heat from the returning coolant.

And finally, a leak in the radiator can drain the system of coolant, which is the lifeblood of your vehicle’s cooling system.

#5. Low Engine Oil Level.

Car engines use a lot of moving parts to ignite the fuel that gets your vehicle on the move. Engine oil provides essential lubrication to each engine component to reduce heat-generating friction.

When engine oil levels are too low, poorly lubricated parts will create more friction and buildup of heat. In addition, the engine oil also helps transfer heat away from the engine – just like coolant. Heat stress and even serious engine damage can result from low engine oil levels.

Staying on top of regular engine oil changes is the best way to avoid this problem altogether. Take indicators seriously, like your dashboard oil light, and get your car to a technician as soon as possible if you think your engine oil levels are too low. Better safe than sorry!

#6. Thermostat failure.

Your vehicle’s cooling system relies on a thermostat near the engine to determine when to send out coolant to regulate the engine’s heat. So, if you have a malfunctioning thermostat, the entire system can be thrown out of balance.

If the thermostat fails to detect high temperatures, it will hold up the flow of coolant, and your engine will overheat. On the flip side, if the thermostat has failed and is allowing coolant to flow constantly, your engine will have a hard time getting to operating temperature.

The best way to avoid this is with regular cooling system maintenance, including coolant fluid exchanges as per manufacturer recommendations.

#7. Issues with the belts and hoses.

If coolant hoses are leaking, blocked or ruptured, or if the belts are worn out or frayed, their purpose of maintaining air and coolant flow to and from the engine and related systems will be limited and may lead to unexpected engine damage.

#8. The heater core is plugged up.

Coolant flow may be compromised if the engine’s heat exchanger unit is clogged or blocked, which can cause overheating in a vehicle’s engine.

How To Deal with Car Overheating?

Here’s all the information you require about an overheating car and what to do if it happens. First of all, don’t panic –follow these tips.

#1. Turn off Your Air Conditioning.

If you’re speeding down an open road and notice that your car has started to overheat, the first thing you should do is turn off your air conditioning. Running the AC puts an extra load on your engine, making the problem worse.

#2. Turn on Your Heater.

This tip may sound counterintuitive, but turning on your heater can help to cool down your engine. The heater will help draw the heat away from the engine.

#3. Pull Over and Turn Off Your Engine.

If you’ve turned off your car AC and turned on the heater, but still your automobile continues to overheat, you’ll need to pull over and turn off your engine. Once the engine is off, open the hood and prop it up so that cool air can reach the engine.

#4. Wait for the Engine to Cool Down.

Do not attempt to start your car again until the engine has cooled down completely. Depending on how hot the engine got, this could take 30 minutes to a few hours.

#5. Check Radiator.

Once the engine has cooled, open your hood and check your radiator. If it’s low on coolant, that could cause an overheating issue. You need to add coolant as needed and check for leaks. (Don’t forget to check the owner’s manual first to determine what type of coolant is best for your car.)

#6. Call a Tow Truck or Roadside Assistance.

If your car has overheated and you can’t seem to fix the problem, call for help. A tow truck or roadside assistance should be able to get your car to a nearby mechanical garage where they can take a look at it and figure out what’s wrong.

These tips should help you troubleshoot and fix the basic issues when your car overheats. Remember, it is always best to know what to do before finding yourself in such sticky situations. You can avoid a costly and stressful experience by following these simple tips.

The Dos and Don’ts of What to Do When Your Car Overheats

Uh-oh! It’s happened! Now what? Here’s your step-by-step game plan of what to do:

• DO Immediately turn off the air conditioner. This will help reduce stress on the engine and cooling system.
• DO turn up the heat. Huh? Crank the heat? Yes! This will help divert heat away from the engine.
• DO find a safe place to pull over and shut off the engine.
• DO allow the engine to cool for at least 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the gauge (if equipped), waiting until it moves back to the normal range.
• DO take out your phone. You need to get your car to a repair shop, so call a friend or a tow truck.
• DO add radiator fluid (if you have it). A quick top-off could help protect your engine from further damage.
• DO carefully restart the engine (if your car isn’t being towed). Drive to the nearest repair shop, all the while keeping an eye on the gauge/light. If it begins to creep up/illuminate again, pull over and let it cool.

Knowing what to do when your car overheats is important. So is knowing what not to do:

• Don’t just continue on to your destination. Your overheated engine may still be running, but it’s not fine. You risk costly damage to your engine if you keep driving.
• Don’t panic. Your engine may have lost its cool, but now is the time for you to keep yours! Drive carefully until you find a safe place to pull over.
• Don’t open the hood immediately. It’s hot in there, and you risk being burned if you act too soon. Wait until the gauge moves back to the normal range or the light extinguishes before you open the hood.
• Don’t wait for it to get better on its own. An overheating engine won’t repair itself, and you should take your car to the mechanic as soon as you can.

Now that you know what actions to take (or not take!) when your car overheats, let’s look for ways to help prevent the problem in the first place.

Tips to prevent a car from overheating

Remembering a few quick tips as you drive can help to alleviate permanent engine damage down the road.

• Check your vehicle’s coolant levels on a consistent basis
• Store an extra bottle of new antifreeze and a gallon of water in your trunk
• Monitor your car’s thermostat as you’re driving
• Do not overuse the car’s air conditioning on extremely hot days
• Help cool the engine by running the heat at the first sign of overheating
• Refer to the vehicle owner’s manual to stay up-to-date on coolant service flushes

An overheating engine is a sign of a serious issue. Regular maintenance checks will help identify problems early on, before causing permanent damage to your vehicle.

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