Why Is My Car Overheating?

Diagnose Why My Car Is Overheating

If your vehicle is overheating, you should get it inspected immediately. If you wait too long, your vehicle's engine could overheat and become warped, or you could cause further damage to the components of the cooling system. If you notice your car starts overheating while you are on the road, you should pull over immediately and take it to a service center.

What Causes Your Vehicle To Overheat?

Overheating can be caused by many various factors, but most of them lead to an issue with the cooling system. If you catch the problem promptly, you can potentially save yourself a lot of time and money. Your vehicle's cooling system is comprised of a radiator, a water pump, a thermostat, and the hoses that connect them. A failure with any of these components could lead to a leak or a blockage that over time could cause overheating.

Common Radiator Issues

Radiators are some of the most common failure points in a cooling system, as they are typically mounted at the front of the engine. This allows for increased airflow and puts the radiator in the best position to be struck by any road objects. Your vehicle's radiator is most likely equipped with fans that aid in cooling. If these fans break, your vehicle will not be able to displace as much heat as needed. This can lead to your engine's temperature spiking.

Failing Thermostat

Your vehicle's thermostat helps to regulate the flow of coolant from your engine to the radiator. If the thermostat gets stuck in the closed position, the hot coolant can not escape the engine block, and it will eventually cause overheating.

Faulty Water Pump And Hoses

Your vehicle's water pump pressurizes the cooling system. When working correctly, the water pump helps to create a flow for the coolant to follow. Keeping the coolant moving helps keep the temperatures down, allowing your radiator to work as efficiently as possible. When a water pump fails, your vehicle's cooling system must work harder to get the hot coolant away from the engine block and into the radiator. This can cause unnecessary stress on other cooling components, leading to premature failures of these components. Your vehicle's water pump is also susceptible to erosion, which can cause it to leak. If these leaks are not treated, they can directly cause your car to overheat.

Hoses are what intertwine your vehicle's cooling system to the engine. If these hoses become loose or brittle, they can develop a leak. Hoses are a wear item, and they will become brittle over time. You should replace your vehicle's hoses in line with the maintenance schedule provided by your vehicle's manufacturer.

If you feel that your vehicle may have a small coolant leak, or it has been getting hotter than usual, you can bring it to our service center to be inspected by our expert staff. They will be able to let you know if your vehicle has any issues with its cooling system. They can also let you know when your manufacturer recommends servicing your vehicle's cooling system if you do not have easy access to a maintenance schedule.