Why Is My Car Overheating?

If you notice that your car's engine is overheating, it's essential to get the problem taken care of as soon as possible. Letting a struggling engine go unchecked can cause significant, even permanent, damage to the engine and other parts of your car. Depending on the cause of the engine overheating, you might notice warning signs in advance, such as a drop in oil or coolant fluid or puddles of green or blue fluid, which indicate a coolant fluid leak. No matter the problem, you'll need to have a professional check out your vehicle and make repairs if the engine is having problems.

Low Coolant Fluid Levels

Coolant fluid is vital for maintaining the right internal temperature in your car's engine. If there isn't enough coolant fluid circulating in the system, the engine will start to strain, and it can get too hot as a result. Coolant fluid appears as a blue or green liquid. It can be easy to figure out if there's leaking coolant fluid somewhere in the cooling system just by looking for some telltale signs, such as blue or green liquid under the car. You may also notice a sweet smell if antifreeze is leaking.

Broken Heater Core

Your vehicle also has a part called the heater core that can be the source of the engine overheating. The heater core, also called the heat exchanger, acts as a miniature version of the car's radiator by helping to circulate coolant fluid. The heater core can break or get clogged, which in turn makes the engine's temperature rise.

Problems With Your Car's Belts and Hoses

The cooling system contains several coolant hoses and related belts that help ensure the engine's operating temperature stays in the proper range. The coolant hoses can become ruptured, blocked, or develop leaks, which prevents the proper circulation of coolant fluid. The belts in the car's cooling system can also slip, fray, or otherwise wear out, which prevents them from delivering air and coolant fluid into the engine and the rest of the cooling system.

Thermostat Failure

Another potential source of the problem is the thermostat. The thermostat is connected to the engine and helps control its internal temperature by regulating antifreeze levels that move into the engine. A thermostat can break, which keeps fluid from circulating through the cooling system and into the engine. This causes the engine's internal temperature to rise, which can lead to overheating.

If your car's engine is having problems with overheating, get in touch with us today for service and repairs.