As a driver, have you ever wondered Why My Car Overheat? An obstructed radiator, a damaged cooling system, a defective water pump, or a defective thermostat are just a few potential engine overheating causes. In the 195 to 220°F range, most automobile engines run.
Your car could overheat if any of these parts were to develop a flaw and allow the temperature to climb above the normal range. As a result, we’ll explain the most frequent reasons Why My Car Overheats or why your car overheats, its effects, what to do when it occurs, and how to prevent it.
How a Cooling System Operates
In the radiator, coolant reservoir, and engine of a cold-running engine is coolant, which is a solution of water and antifreeze. The internal combustion process starts the engine, which then warms up as a result of the heat it produces. As soon as the engine achieves its specified operating temperature, the thermostat opens, enabling coolant to flow via the radiator and heater tubes and into the radiator via the upper radiator tube.
Coolant circulates through tiny veins or passageways in the radiator, where it is cooled by air drawn across the veins by the radiator fan. When the coolant reaches the lower radiator hose, it returns to the engine to continue absorbing heat and preserving engine temperature.
Afterwards, the heated coolant circulates through the heater hoses and returns to the heater core, warming the cabin (if needed). Following another round of heat absorption in the engine, the coolant returns to the radiator for additional cooling after passing via the thermostat and upper radiator hose.
To control the coolant temperature based on data from the temperature sensor, the radiator fan has been turning on and off intermittently throughout this entire process. If only your car has a clutched fan will this rule not apply? The temperature beneath the hood determines when the fan clutch engages and disengages in this instance, controlling how strongly air is drawn over the radiator passageways. A car may overheat if one element of the cooling system breaks down. So, that answers the question of How Long for the Engine to Cool Down.
Common Automobile Overheating Reasons
Video referred by- Auto Repair Guys
A malfunctioning water pump or low coolant are only two of the many Causes of Car Overheating. Let’s investigate some of the frustrating mechanical failures’ most frequent causes.
Stuck Thermostat
To let the coolant circulate into the radiator for cooling, the engine’s thermostat needs to open at a certain temperature. Usually, this temperature ranges from 82 to 93 degrees Celsius. The thermostat can become covered with muck build-up, corrosion, and other coolant system debris over time and as a result of infrequent coolant replacements, which makes it impossible for it to accurately sense the coolant temperature.
Sometimes the thermostat will simply not open due to mechanical failure. In either situation, the coolant becomes trapped in the engine, which causes it to overheat relatively quickly. Radiator and heater hoses that are swollen are telltale symptoms of a broken thermostat. The coolant reservoir will also consistently stay at the “Full Cold” line and never cross the “Full Hot” line, as you’ll see.
Leaking Head Gasket
The pressurized gasket between the engine block and cylinder head is referred to as the head gasket. Sealing the engine block and preventing coolant and oil from combining is one of its primary roles. The gas from the cylinder could seep into the cooling system if the head gasket leaks or blown head gasket.
The coolant may subsequently be forced out of the cooling system due to this gas’s subsequent increase in system pressure. The engine may eventually become overheated if the coolant is eventually exhausted.
Defective Radiator Fan
To lower the temperature of the coolant as it flows through the radiator, the radiator fan has the crucial task of pulling air over it. If this fan fails, the coolant temperature will only minimally decrease as it flows through the radiator, which could lead to overheating when the coolant moves through the engine.
The radiator fan may become dysfunctional, including broken fan blades, a bad fan motor, bad wiring, or a malfunctioning fan clutch. It can be a sign that your fan has failed if you notice it never turns on or spins more slowly than usual.
Fault in the Temperature Sensor
When the coolant reaches a certain temperature on vehicles that have electric fans, the temperature sensor transmits electricity to the fans, turning them on to reduce the coolant temperature. The fan won’t receive the power it requires to function if this sensor malfunctions, overheating the engine.
Low Coolant Level
Insufficient coolant prevents the cooling system from adequately absorbing and dissipating heat from the engine. This can lead to overheating, but before it does so, the coolant levels usually need to be extremely low. The temperature gauge may register slightly above normal but not yet in the overheating area, and the coolant gauge may not display the “Full Hot” or “Warm” indications that indicate a low coolant level.
Unlike cars, which utilize gasoline, coolants do not. So, a coolant leak is probably present if your coolant level is low. Remember that not all coolant leaks are visible from the outside; some can be found inside the engine. For instance, a blown head gasket that seals the engine’s cylinder head to the body of the vehicle may allow coolant to seep into the engine’s cylinders or oil system.
A Cooling System Blockage
Especially in poorly maintained vehicles, corrosion, and other debris in the cooling system over time can lead to build-up that clogs the cooling system passageways. This might prevent the engine coolant from flowing, which would cause it to overheat. This information is directly linked to the topic ‘How Long for the Engine to Cool Down’ that we mentioned above.
Airflow Weakness
To reduce the temperature of the engine coolant, the radiator fan must force cool, fresh air through the radiator fins. The coolant temperature won’t drop low enough without adequate airflow, causing overheating.
This may be due to a clog on the radiator. Typical obstructions to the radiator include cardboard, leaves, and plastic bags. This can also result from physical damage to the radiator that has partially or entirely stopped the channels through the fins.
Low Level of Oil
The engine oil in your car lubricates the moving parts, and if the amount is too low, heat can build up. If there is not enough lubrication and there is an excessive amount of heat, the coolant may not be able to sufficiently lower the temperature, leading to overheating. The cooling process and excessive heat accumulation are both prevented by the engine oil. In actuality, the fuel eliminates between 75% and 80% of the engine’s unused heat.
Moreover, it maintains optimum lubrication of various components, minimizing friction and the ensuing overheating. By reducing friction, motor oil assists in maintaining a stable engine temperature.
Hence, engine overheating may result from low oil, which may be caused by an oil leak. Internal engine parts are lubricated by oil, ensuring that they operate without friction. Friction from a lack of lubrication will result in excessive heat being produced, which could lead to the engine breaking down. The following are most of the causes of car overheating and keep these in your mind.
Final Words
Do not attempt to travel further if your car is overheating. Pull aside, stop driving, and turn the vehicle off. The best course of action is to have the car brought to the closest auto service, although steps can be made to identify any faults. Remember to keep in mind How Long for the Engine to cool down.
