Head straight to our shop if your car, truck, or SUV keeps overheating when you drive it. In fact, if the vehicle is overheating severely, have it towed to our shop to prevent further engine damage. If you continue to drive the vehicle when the temperature gauge is in the red, you can cause severe damage such as cracking the head gasket. Here are the reasons why engines overheat constantly.
Clogged Cooling System
You may have a clog in the cooling system that is preventing the coolant from circulating throughout the engine. The radiator hoses can get clogged by minerals in the coolant. The radiator can also get clogged over time. To prevent your cooling system from getting clogged, have it flushed every 30,000 miles. This removes dirt, grime, and mineral deposits.
Leaking Cooling System
The cooling system can also develop leaks if it is not maintained. This includes coolant leaking out of the radiator hoses, the water pump, the thermostat, and the radiator. Any time you have a cooling system leak, it reduces the level of coolant in the engine and the engine runs too hot.
Malfunctioning Water Pump
If you have clocked over 100,000 miles on the odometer, your engine could be overheating because the water pump is malfunctioning. When this happens, you end up with little to no coolant circulating through the engine and, as such, an overheating engine.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
The engine will also overheat if the thermostat is malfunctioning. In fact, your engine will get too hot within 10 to 15 minutes of starting it. This is a sign that the thermostat valve is stuck closed or that the thermostat is not reading the engine temperature properly and refusing to release the coolant.
Radiator Wear and Tear
We mentioned above that the radiator can get clogged or start to leak. This usually happens when the radiator is getting old and it is wearing out. Corrosion can build up on the bottom of the radiator and cause it to leak. The air inlets into the radiator can get clogged by dirt and grime. The radiator fan can also stop working. Any of these things will make your engine overheat.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Finally, if you fail to maintain your automobile, the engine will run too hot. The cooling system is not the only thing that reduces the engine’s temperature. Clean motor oil circulating through the engine also draws heat away from the moving parts. If you ignore your oil changes and other vehicle maintenance, the engine may run too hot.
We can help here at our shop, so give us a call today to set up a service visit.