You're on a drive when you notice the temperature gauge on your dashboard inching towards the red zone. Your vehicle has a large chance of overheating. To prevent severe engine damage, you need to safely pull over and turn off your car, including the AC. A lot of engines get ruined by forcing it to drive farther than it's currently capable. An overheating engine is your vehicle's way of alerting you that it needs professional attention. Below are five reasons why your car has overheated and how to prevent it from happening again.
Wrong Coolant Concentration
It's essential to use the correct type of coolant for your vehicle. Using a coolant with the wrong mixture of distilled water and coolant can be harmful. Your vehicle's owner's manual has recommendations for the best type of coolant for your car. If you're concerned, a coolant flush is the best step to clean the cooling system and start fresh.
Cooling System Leak
Does the coolant within its reservoir look low? Have you noticed coolant leaks beneath your car? These are significant signs that there is a coolant leak. If the coolant is leaking out, it will not adequately manage the engine's temperature. If the leak isn't fixed, overheating can occur.
The radiator serves an essential function in connection with the coolant. It reduces heat in the engine by pulling heat away from the cooling system. Problems occur when there are leaks or clogs within the radiator. In some cases, the radiator fan may be broken. Issues within the radiator can prevent it from adequately managing the high temperatures, resulting in the engine overheating.
Insufficient Engine Oil
Regular oil changes can keep your engine parts moving fluidly amongst each other. If you skip oil changes, your engine will use most of the oil, leaving very little for the hot engine parts over time. Engine oil can also accumulate debris that creates sludge, rendering it ineffective.
Faulty Water Pump
The heart of your cooling system is your water pump. The water pump pushes coolant from the radiator through the engine. Problems can occur if the coolant is in poor condition or holes within the water pump.
Water pump inspection in Newark, NJ
An overheating engine is an issue that deserves immediate attention. This list isn't all-encompassing; there may be other significant problems affecting the engine. Have your vehicle inspected before severe engine damage ensues. For dedicated automotive service at an affordable cost, you can trust Autobahn Auto Repair. Click here to schedule an appointment or reach out to us at 973-755-1801.