The internal combustion engines vehicles are designed to run hot. So to say it is normal for your engines to be hot when driving your vehicle around. This is why your vehicles has a cooling system to keep the engine temperature stable and an electrical thermostat that displays the temperature of the engine.
The common triggers of an overheating vehicle is the check engine light on the dashboard comes on, the temperature gauge on the dashboard spikes into the red zone, and leakages underneath your vehicle.
As a driver whenever you are experiencing overheating take your car immediately to a mechanic for proper diagnosis and fixing. An overheating engine can cause severe damage to your car engine. If overheating is neglected, it can lead to total engine damage and you could end up replacing the engine.
You maybe wondering why is my car overheating? Well, overheating is a common problem often encountered by drivers. Here in this article we will look at the common causes of an overheating vehicle.
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Why Is My Car Overheating?
Overheating is an issue with your car’s cooling system. Here we will list below the common causes of an overheating car:
Coolant Leaks and Low Level
If the coolant level of your car is low, you will need to fill it up. But before that check for coolant leaks in the pipes and hoses connecting the coolant to the radiator and engine. However a common issue I discovered is that most car owners use water instead of coolants.
Using water instead of a coolant can lead to rusts within the pipes and this can cause leakages that prevent enough water from getting to the engine. Coolants have anti-rust and anti-freeze properties that make them suitable over water.
Carry out a pressure test to check coolant or water leakages within the engine and radiator.
Radiator Issues ( Faulty radiator fan, clogged or leaking radiator)
A working radiator fan reduces the heat from your car. A faulty radiator fan will fail to spin and causing engine overheating.
Dirts can block the radiator pipes or hose and rusts can lead to leakages. Also rusts or dents in the radiator fins can block airflow and prevent coolants from cooling properly.
Faulty Water Pump
The water pump circulates the flow of coolants from the radiator to the engine. A faulty water pump will prevent coolants from properly circulating thereby leading to overheating. The signs of a faulty water pump includes: making a whining noise, visible leaks near the pump, and a stiff pump head.
Blown Head Gasket
The head gasket provides enough pressure to prevent the mixing of combustion gases, engine oils and coolant. A blown head gasket wears wil fail to provide the compression needed for sealing the combustion chamber. The common signs of a blown head gasket includes:
- White smoke due to the leakage of coolant into the combustion chamber.
- Milky oil due to the mixing of engine oil and coolant or water.
- Combustion gasses escaping through the gasket seal entering the cooling system preventing the coolant from circulating properly.
Bad Thermostat
A faulty thermostat will fail to open or close thereby preventing the flow of coolant between the car engine and radiator. A struck closed thermostat will prevent coolant from reaching the radiator causing overheating. A flunctuate temperature gauge unexpectedly moving from high and low on your dashboard is a sign of a faulty thermostat.
Why is My Car Overheating All of a Sudden
If you car starts overheating all of a sudden, turn off your Ac and other accessories, turn on heater to remove heat temporarily, pull over and turn off your engine. Avoid driving an overheating vehicle to avoid more damages, ensure to call your mechanic for proper diagnosis.
Why is my Car Overheating At Idle
If your car is overheating at idle first diagnose with an obd scanner. Then check if radiator fan is working, Check the head gasket, test the thermostat if valve is opening and closing correctly, test the water pump and use a low pressure water or air to clean the radiator.
Why is My Car Overheating and Smoking
If your car is overheating and smoking this is caused by a burnt head gasket. A white smoke means coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber, A blue smoke coming out of the exhaust means your engine is burning oil. While a black smoke coming out of the exhaust means your engine fuel mixture is too rich.
Why is My Car Overheating When I Have Coolant
If your car is overheating when you have a coolant, check if radiator fan is working, check for dirts or rusts clogging the radiator fins and pipes, check if water pump is properly working, check if head gasket is blown and check if thermostat is bad or faulty.
Why is My Car Overheating when idle
If your car is overheating when idle this is due to a faulty radiator fan, a blown head gasket or a bad thermostat, a failing water pump and a clogged radiator hose and leakage.
Why is My Car Overheating When Driving
If you car is overheating when driving in traffic this can be a fan issue. If overheating occurs at high speed this is a radiator or coolant flow issue. If overheating immediately after starting your car this is a faulty thermostat. If there is no coolant leaks this is could be caused by a blown head gasket.
Why is My Car Overheating While Idle
An overheating car while idle could be due to faulty radiator fan, a blown head gasket or a bad thermostat.
A failing water pump and clogged radiator hose and pipes are also common reasons your car is overheating at idle.
Why is My Car Overheating With Coolant
If your car is overheating with coolant in the cooling system, replace a faulty radiator fan, check for dirts and rusts clogging the radiator fins and pipes, listen to a humming sound or visible leaks near the pump to see if your water pump is functioning correctly, a blown head gasket and a bad thermostat preventing the coolant from properly circulating.
Why is My Car Smoking and Overheating
If your car is smoking and overheating at the same time this is mainly caused by a burnt head gasket.
- A white smoke coming out of the exhaust means coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber.
- A blue smoke coming out of the exhaust means your engine is burning oil often caused worn out internal components.
- A black smoke coming out of the exhaust means your engine fuel mixture is too rich as a result of not enough air not reaching the combustion chamber.