When your car’s temperature gauges reach the “H” level, it may be too late to prevent a major breakdown. Recognizing the signs of a car that has overheated – and the factors that cause it – can be the difference between having to deal with an inconvenience or a hopeless car.
Identifying the problem
Besides a low level of pressure in the oil or the total absence of it, almost nothing is as delicate for your car as a rise in temperature or a constant flashing of the indicator saying “Hot” (hot). These signs are your confirmation that your car is dangerously overheated, and identifying the symptoms is the only thing that will allow you to prevent serious damage to your engine. Overheating is always a critical situation for a car engine, so learning to detect the sources of the problem will be a valuable addition to the tool kit of the responsible and vigilant motorist.
Symptom Causes: Cause 1: Stuck Thermostat
Your car’s thermostat is a valve that controls the flow of antifreeze from the engine to the radiator. When the engine is cold, the thermostat remains closed so that the antifreeze can more quickly reach operating temperature and also provide heat to the passenger compartment. The thermostat has a spring that moves according to the temperature of the antifreeze allowing it to open first. Sometimes the thermostat is able to open, preventing the flow of antifreeze necessary for the system to cool down from reaching the radiator. This is often the first cause of overheating. Signs of this problem are increased temperatures and possibly heat loss inside the car.
Cause 2: clogged radiator
Your car’s radiator will have thousands of gallons of antifreeze circulating throughout its life. Along with the antifreeze will also circulate thousands of particles that are released as a result of the gradual corrosion of the cooling system. These impurities accumulate in the radiator tubes reducing the efficiency of performance. A plugged radiator is sure to lead to system overheating. The most noticeable symptom of this condition is usually a high temperature that spikes when you accelerate.
Cause 3: loss of antifreeze
A car’s cooling mechanism is a closed-loop system where you should never have an antifreeze leak. Loss of antifreeze will cause the engine to warm up because it will have to process less coolant at higher temperatures. The most noticeable symptom of overheating due to loss of antifreeze will be a large puddle of liquid on the pavement, which, in turn, will indicate that the leak is external. Naturally, alerts will indicate a problem even if you have not physically detected the leak.
Cause 4: damaged water pump
The cars use a band-actuated device to push the antifreeze and water mixture through the cooling system. This device is the water pump. In rare cases, the mechanism that drives the antifreeze into the pump rusts, making it impossible for fluids to circulate in the system. If this happens, the temperature gauge will activate and the antifreeze and water mixture will boil in the radiator.
Cause 5: faulty fan
Most engine cooling system fans are electric, although some are driven by a banding mechanism. If a band breaks or the power supply goes out, your car will heat up. The fans will be adjusted with the thermostat when necessary; However, when your car carburates for long periods or the ambient temperature is very high, a faulty fan will cause overheating by not assisting the rest of the cooling system. In severe conditions, a fan that has stopped running will cause the temperature gauges to rise.
