Automobile engines are built to withstand a lot, but they can only take so much heat. They can take a lot more heat than we can, but once the engine’s temperature rises above 220 degrees Fahrenheit, it will start to overheat and the damage begins. York Tire & Auto Service lists six common reasons why engines overheat. If your car is overheating, get it into an auto service shop right away.
Coolant Issues
Coolant is supposed to keep your engine cool but it can’t do its job if there isn’t enough of it in the cooling system. Low coolant is a common cause of overheating, as is the wrong type of coolant or an uneven mixture between the coolant and water. Engines with no coolant will overheat and seize.
Radiator Leaks
The radiator’s job is to store hot coolant so it can cool down before it’s re-circulated through the engine. Because radiators are made out of steel, they corrode as they get older. Eventually, this corrosion (rust) will eat through the radiator and put a hole in the bottom of it. You’ll end up with a coolant leak.
Malfunctioning Fan
Part of what helps reduce the coolant’s temperature is the radiator fan. This part blows air over the radiator. If the fan is malfunctioning or not working at all, the radiator will not reduce the coolant’s temperature enough on its own and will push hot coolant through the engine and overheat it.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
The thermostat gets the cooling system’s ball rolling. It releases coolant once the engine starts to get too hot. You can figure out what could happen if the thermostat is malfunctioning or not working at all. This crucial regulating device ensures your engine always runs at the correct temperature.
Leaking Heater Core
The heater core has tubes through which hot coolant flows, and it uses this hot coolant to heat your vehicle’s interior when you turn on the heater or defroster. If the core is leaking, the cooling system is leaking, and you’ll end up with low coolant or no coolant at all and an overheated engine.
Low/Old Oil
Finally, your motor oil also helps keep your engine cool. It reduces the heat generated by moving parts by lubricating them and preventing excess friction. As the motor oil ages, it gets dirty and loses its viscosity, i.e. it is no longer effective. Your engine will run much hotter with old, dirty motor oil.
Call York Tire & Auto’s service shop in Red Lion, PA, if your automobile’s engine is overheating. We’ll find out why it’s running too hot and fix the problem.
