In this article we will understand the causes of overheating, ways to eliminate it and preventive measures. It is important to understand what to do in such a situation to minimize damage and avoid additional repair costs.
Overheating of the car engine is one of the most common problems faced by drivers. The causes of overheating can be varied: insufficient coolant level, faulty thermostat, problems with the coolant pump or radiator, too high engine loads, extreme heat, and more.
As you know, a serviceable vehicle must cool itself. At high speeds, this is done by blowing the radiator with the oncoming air flow, and at slow speeds it is done by the cooling fan. There are several reasons why a car can overheat. These include coolant leaks, a faulty thermostat, a damaged radiator, or problems with the water pump. Understanding the cause of overheating will help with diagnostics, but it is also important for the driver to react quickly in the moment.
Signs of engine overheating are usually easy to spot: the temperature on the tachometer starts to rise significantly, there may be an odor of burning fluid, as well as uncharacteristic sounds from under the hood.
If you have noticed any of the above signs, you should pull over to a safe roadside as soon as possible. It is important not to allow the engine to continue running at higher revs, as this will only increase overheating. Once the car is stopped, follow a series of recommendations to contain the problem:
1. Turn off the air conditioner and turn off the cabin heater. This will help lower the engine running temperature.
2. Turn off the engine and let it cool down. Do not open the hood right away, as the hot steam can burn you. Wait about 15-30 minutes until the engine has cooled to a safe level. Then open the hood and wait another 10-15 minutes to provide additional ventilation and speed up cooling.
3. Do not open the radiator until it has cooled completely. Otherwise, you may get burns from the hot fluid escaping.
4. Check the coolant level in the coolant reservoir and inspect the cooling system, if it shows no signs of leaking, top up the coolant. Remember to do this slowly so as not to cause negative effects from rapid cooling.
5. If the coolant level in the coolant reservoir is normal but the engine still continues to overheat, check the area under the vehicle for fluid leaks and inspect the radiator for visible damage.
6. Start the engine and pay attention to the gauges, if the temperature does not rise sharply and there are no visible leaks, go to the service yourself. However, if the problem persists, a tow truck should be called.
Please note that regular preventive maintenance and diagnostics at a qualified service center will not only avoid this problem, but may also prevent costly replacement of the entire engine. Regularly check the level of coolant and oil, monitor the condition of the radiator and thermostat. In addition, the mode of operation of the engine is important – if you move only in low gears or at high speeds, the probability of overheating increases.
If such a problem does happen to you, do not delay the repair, contact the professionals at DEIZ!
