Why is your car overheating? Here are some of the most common causes (click on each one to read more and find out what you should do):
Is your car overheating? Find out why
Car Overheating? Here’s Why
1. Too little or no coolant
Your car's engine produces a lot of heat and it needs coolant to keep it cool. If you have too little or no coolant, your engine can easily start to overheat, especially if you are sitting in traffic or stopped at a red light.
Solution:
Check your coolant level. You can do this by lifting your hood, removing your radiator cap and coolant reservoir cap to see how much fluid you have. Your fluid should be almost to the top.
Make sure, however, that you wait to do this until your engine has cooled down. You should wait at least a couple of hours after you've turned off your engine before you try to remove your radiator cap.
The reason being, your coolant is under great pressure when it is hot, so if you try to remove the cap, you can get severely burned from the scalding hot coolant and steam that will burst out when the cap is removed.
The following video will show you how to check your coolant level.
Car Overheating? Check your coolant level
2. A leaking, blocked, or ruptured coolant hose
Your car could also be overheating due to a leaking, blocked, or ruptured coolant hose. Over time your hoses can get damaged or simply wear out.
This will cause your coolant to leak out. If you have a block in your hoses, then your coolant won't be able to circulate properly through your cooling system.
Solution:
If your coolant hoses are damaged or blocked they will need to be replaced or unblocked. Unless you are comfortable with this type of repair, it is best to get a professional to do this for you.
See how your car’s cooling system works
3. A broken water pump
If your car's water pump gets cracked or starts to leak, it won't have the right pressure to move coolant through your system to cool your engine. Therefore, your car will start to overheat.
Solution:
You will need to replace your car's water pump.
4. A cracked or leaky radiator
If you have a crack or a leak in your radiator, it won't be able to properly pull heat out of your engine. You can tell that you have a problem with your radiator if:
Your car temperature gauge goes higher than normal
You are leaking coolant
Your radiator fluid has changed colour and it looks rusty. It will eventually turn into sludge.
Solution:
You can temporarily fix a leak in your radiator by adding a product such a "Bar’s Leaks" to it. This may fix your leak in the short term, however, you will eventually need to replace your radiator.
The following video shows what is involved in replacing a radiator. If you would like a professional to do this for you, contact Hansma.
Car Overheating? It could mean you need to replace your radiator
5. A broken radiator fan
Your car's radiator fan draws air across your engine's radiator which helps keep your engine cool even if you are stopped or the temperature outside is extremely hot. If your radiator fan is broken or is not working properly then you might notice:
Your temperature gauge going up when you are driving slowly or idling
A blown fuse in your vehicle's use panel
A noisy fan sound
Solution:
If your radiator fan is broken, you will need to get it replaced.
6. Low engine oil level
Your motor oil also helps to stop your car from overheating. It does this by minimizing the friction in your engine. If your engine oil level is low, then your car may overheat.
Solution:
Regularly check your engine oil level and fill it up when necessary. If you are going through engine oil very quickly and you notice oil stains under your vehicle, then you may have a leak and you will need to get this fixed.
Car Overheating? Your engine oil level may be too low
7. Broken thermostat
Your thermostat controls the flow of coolant in your system based on the temperature of your engine. If the temperature is hot, more coolant is released and vice versa. If your thermostat is broken, then you might find that your car is overheating.
Solution:
You will need to replace your thermostat. This is a relatively inexpensive and common repair when done by a mechanic you can trust.
Tips to Help Stop Your Car from Overheating
Here are a few regular maintenance tasks that you can do to help make sure that your engine doesn't overheat. These include:
Refill or top off your coolant levels as soon as they fall below the manufacturer's recommended level. If your coolant reservoir is empty, you should use a mix of 50/50 antifreeze/coolant and water.
Keep an eye on your car's thermostat while you are driving
Don't overuse your air conditioning system on really hot days.
Have regular coolant flushes and exchanges done.
Have your radiator checked and maintained as often as suggested by your car’s manufacturer.
is your Car OVERHEATING? TAKE IT TO HANSMA Automotive
If your car is overheating, contact Hansma Automotive. Here are the reasons why:
Over 33 Years of Service: We've been serving the Waterloo region with the highest quality automotive services since 1987.
Locally Owned and Operated: You can feel good about supporting a locally owned and operated family business.
True Customer Care: At Hansma, we truly care about our customers. We will do our best to provide you with great customer care and service. When you come to Hansma, you'll be treated like family.
Honest Customer Service: Our customers have come to appreciate our honest service. Our word-of-mouth referrals continue to be our largest source of new customers.
Competitive Pricing: Whether you are looking for the best tire change Kitchener has to offer or you require one of our other automotive services, our highly trained technicians will be able to diagnose and fix your vehicle at a highly competitive price.
Reliable Repairs: You can rely on the technical expertise of our friendly staff to keep your vehicle in peak condition.
CALL: 519-748-5533 | TEXT: 226-887-1469 | EMAIL: INFO@HANSMAAUTOMOTIVE.COM
HOURS: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8AM - 6PM; CLOSED SATURDAY & SUNDAY
What our customers are saying…
““I am a single mom and I have find a lot of shops will try to take advantage of women because they think that we don’t have a clue.. I have found at Hansma Automotive they take the time to explain options and prices and only repair what needs to be done. A good mechanic is hard to find. I came here because they were highly recommended by a friend and haven’t been disappointed.””