You cannot afford to have your car overheating all the time, and we here at York Tire & Auto Service get that. Obviously, if your engine overheats constantly, there’s something wrong. What’s worse, is that an overheating engine can be severely damaged by the very heat that it’s generating. Let’s talk about the reasons why an engine will overheat no matter what you do.
Clogged Cooling System
There are many places in your automobile’s cooling system that can get clogged, particularly if you don’t maintain the system. Radiator hoses, cooling system hoses, the water pump, and the radiator vents are all areas where clogs in the cooling system will make your vehicle overheat.
Leaking Cooling System
Naturally, if your cooling system is leaking, your engine will overheat because it is losing the very coolant that keeps it cool. Leaks can occur in the hoses, gaskets, and seals, as well as the water pump and the radiator if rust has eaten away at the bottom. It’s important to have any leaks fixed right away.
Wrong Engine Coolant
If you put the wrong engine coolant in your automobile by mistake, or if your mechanic did so, this will make your engine overheat. It might seem as if coolant is the same across the board, but it isn’t. The wrong engine coolant can make your engine overheat constantly and damage it.
Dead Thermostat
Your engine’s thermostat is the part that releases the coolant into the water pump so it can push it through your engine. If the thermostat is malfunctioning, it may not release the coolant once the engine needs it. This, of course, will make your engine overheat until you replace the thermostat.
Dead Radiator Fan
The radiator fan along with the radiator vents mentioned above help cool down the hot engine coolant once it’s returned to the radiator. If the fan is malfunctioning or dead, the coolant will not be cooled off enough before the water pump pushes it through the engine again.
Malfunctioning Water Pump
Speaking of the water pump, this part cannot only leak but it can also wear down. The average lifespan of a water pump is about 100,000 miles, and if your car has reached that milestone, it’s time to start thinking about a new one. If the water pump malfunctions, your engine won’t get any coolant.
Radiator Problems
We also mentioned above that the radiator can start leaking if it has rusted out of the bottom. This happens on older automobiles primarily. The radiator can last for years, but years of coolant resting on the bottom of it also corrodes it and rusts it out.
Dirty Motor Oil
Oil changes every 3000 miles help prevent your engine from overheating. Motor oil doesn’t just lubricate moving engine parts; it also draws heat away from them. If your motor oil is old, instead of drawing heat away from the engine parts it will deposit gunk onto them.
Broken Parts
Finally, there are parts that can make your engine overheat. Your catalytic converter can run too hot if it is clogged or malfunctioning. If you blow a head gasket, you will lose coolant through the top. If the exhaust manifold is cracked, the hot exhaust will overheat the engine.
These are the primary reasons why your engine overheats constantly. There are other things that can cause the problem, as well, including an overheating fuel pump. York Tire & Auto Service in Red Lion, PA, can get to the bottom of why your engine is overheating and fix it.
