It’s important not to drive your automobile if it is overheating constantly. Continuing to drive your car, truck, utility vehicle, or van can cause serious engine damage including a cracked engine block. George Automotive Services lists the reasons why you can’t stop your car from overheating below.
Coolant Issues
The most common cause of an overheating engine is a problem with the engine coolant. The levels may be too low because there is a leak in the cooling system, you may have the wrong engine coolant in the cooling system, or the coolant may be old and dirty. It’s important to always make sure that you have the correct coolant in your engine and that you have it flushed and refilled every 30,000 miles.
Fan Problems
There is a fan in the cooling system that cools off the hot engine coolant in the radiator. If this fan is malfunctioning, the engine coolant will not be reduced in temperature before it circulates through the engine again. This will cause your car to overheat constantly. If you cannot hear your radiator fan, it is malfunctioning.
Radiator Problems
Radiator problems can include clogs and leaks. The most common problem with the radiator is that corrosion will eat away at the bottom of the unit and coolant will leak out of it. This happens in cars with old radiators. Your radiator can also be clogged with dirt, debris, and corrosion.
System Clogs
The cooling system can also get clogged with dirt and debris, especially if you don’t flush and refill your coolant regularly. Air inlets leading into the radiator can also get clogged, and this, too, can cause hot engine coolant to circulate through the engine and overheat it.
Thermostat Problems
Many cars overheat constantly because the thermostat is dead. This is the cooling system part that releases the coolant into the system once the engine starts to get too hot. If it can no longer read engine temperatures, it won’t release the engine coolant.
Water Pump Problems
Once the thermostat releases the coolant, the water pump circulates through the cooling system. If the water pump has failed or is clogged, it won’t be able to circulate the engine coolant. It can also start leaking, and this can cause low coolant levels.
Other Problems
Finally, cooling system problems may not be the issue at all. Your car may be overheating constantly because you have dirty motor oil in it, because the fuel pump is overheating, or because you have a problem with the exhaust system.
George Automotive Services in Danville, PA, will get to the bottom of the reason why your car is overheating constantly. Call us today.
