Overheating issues are a big problem for your car’s engine. Combustion is a hot process, but your car’s engine parts can’t take too much heat before they break down and warp. Your car is always battling between keeping the engine running and keeping the engine cool. MotivWerks has this information for you about what might contribute to overheating in your car.
Low Coolant Levels
Lots of car owners forget that coolant needs to be topped up periodically. This one fluid circulates throughout the entire cooling system, removing heat along the way. The reservoir needs to be full in order for the cooling system to have enough coolant to do what it needs to do.
Leaking Cooling System
If the cooling system springs a leak, you’re losing coolant even faster, and that can be seriously bad news. There are a lot of possible points of failure, ranging from parts like the radiator and the water pump to hoses and pipes throughout the engine compartment. Stay on the lookout for puddles under your car so you can address leaks quickly.
Broken Thermostat
The thermostat is a small part that opens and closes in response to heat levels. This one part helps your car’s computer to know when to turn parts of the cooling system on and off. Thermostats can last a very long time, but when they fail, that means there isn’t any information for the computer to use and the cooling system can’t do its job.
Damaged Head Gasket
It’s a rare problem, but if your car’s head gasket goes, then you’ve got a big, big problem. The head gasket lives between the cylinder head and the engine block. It keeps the combustion cylinders free of anything that shouldn’t be there, like water or engine coolant. If that seal fails, the engine cannot function at all.
Skipped Oil Changes
Did you expect to see oil changes on this list? Most car owners don’t. Engine oil lubricates and cleans the engine, but it also helps to keep it cool. So, if you’re not getting oil changes as often as you should, you’re running the risk that the oil in your car’s engine is old, dirty, and unable to keep up with everything it needs to do. That can contribute heavily to overheating issues.
Don’t ignore an overheating issue. It’s seriously bad for your car’s engine and it’s avoidable. Contact us today at MotivWerks in Chambersburg, PA and we’ll set up an appointment to diagnose your car’s overheating problems.