Reasons Your Car Could Be Overheating

Summer is over, but your car may not have gotten the message. If the temperate gauge in your car is creeping past the normal range into the red zone, you notice an unusual smell coming from your engine, or you see steam coming out of the hood of your car, your car could be overheating because of a problem. Here are some possible explanations for why your car could be overheating:

Cooling System Leak: This is one of the most common reasons for an overheated engine. Your engine produces an immense amount of heat, and the cooling system keeps everything in a normal temperature range so that it can work efficiently. If there is a leak in one of your hoses, your radiator, or elsewhere in your cooling system, the system will not be able to do its job and properly cool your engine.

Malfunctioning Water Pump: Your water pump regulates the circulation of coolant throughout the engine. If it is broken, your engine will burn up in no time.

Too Cold for Your Coolant: You may associate an overheated engine with summer, but it can happen in the winter months, too! If your coolant isn’t equipped for cold winter temperatures, it may harden too much and fail to circulate.

Blocked System: If there is no leak in your cooling system and you have the correct type of coolant for your car, there is a possibility there is a blockage in your cooling system. Over time, it is normal for sediment and other small particles to accumulate in your vehicle’s different hoses. If there is too much buildup, your cooling system will fail to circulate and your engine will overheat.

You may be noticing a theme here, circulation is key! If your cooling system is unable to circulate coolant throughout the engine, your engine is going to overheat. When troubleshooting an overheated engine, finding the cause of blocked circulation is usually the key to solving the problem.