There are certain steps and some basic actions you should take when your car is overheating. While driving in a car trying to get some fresh air, suddenly the red engine light comes on and flashes. The temperature controller indicates that the engine temperature is rising.
This situation is very common and most car owners are concerned with this problem. Overheating is one of the most common problems faced by car owners in Nigeria and is more common in older vehicles. In the next section, we’ll discuss the most common causes of overheating in your car and how to manage these causal relationships.
Common Causes of Overheating in Cars
Overheating is usually caused by a defective cooling system. A car’s cooling system consists of five basic components:
- Radiator
- Water Pump
- Thermostat
- Coolant
- Coolant Sensor
These five components are responsible for keeping your car’s engine temperature within optimal operating limits. If at least one of these components is faulty or missing, your car is more likely to overheat. In general, if your water pump is failing, your car will definitely overheat. There are no two choices. If you stubbornly continue to drive the car despite the water pump failing, you will surely destroy the engine as well. The water pump channels coolant through the engine along the water jacket to help dissipate the heat generated by the engine block. If the water pump fails, the engine temperature will continue to rise and the car will definitely overheat. These are the major causes:
Faulty Water Pump
Most of the time, the overheating problem in your car is due to a leak causing a lack of coolant or water pump. As you can see, the water pump is an integral part and one of the most important components of your car’s cooling system. It helps pump coolant through the engine to ensure that the heat generated within the engine is dissipated.
The coolant surge tank, thermostat, and radiator are hoses that help move fluid to these major components. A leak or blockage in one of these hoses can cause serious failures within the system, causing the cooling system to malfunction and ultimately lead to overheating.
Radiator Leaks
The radiator wastes the coolant in the car and causes the car to overheat as the engine needs little to no fluid to dissipate heat. Leaks are hard to diagnose, so make sure it’s the radiator. The main function of the thermostat is to indicate when the engine temperature exceeds the optimum value. It works on the principle of temperature, pressure, and temperature resistance.
How to tell if your car is overheating
It’s a good idea to check the water and coolant levels before you leave in the morning. If it is low, top it up to the recommended level. If the coolant level is constantly dropping, it may indicate that somewhere in the hose is leaking and needs to be replaced. So how do you know if your car is overheating? is. On the temperature scale, an overheated engine exceeds 190 degrees Fahrenheit. When the car is fully overheated, you will notice steam escaping from the hood area. This indicates that the car is overheating and should be checked.
What causes this overheating of your car
Experiencing overheating can be very uncomfortable and even embarrassing. However, you do have to deal with the situation, especially if you’re on a remote highway or in an area where auto mechanics aren’t very common. It is expected to act in a certain way and perform some basic actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Engines Overheat?
Engines can overheat for many reasons. In general, it’s because something’s wrong with the cooling system and heat isn’t able to escape the engine compartment. The source of the issue could include a cooling system leak, faulty radiator fan, broken water pump, or clogged coolant hose.
What happens when an engine overheats?
Today’s engines are typically built to be durable, but when the heat generated by a vehicle’s motor is well above the normal operating temperature, the devices made to cool this heat distribution may begin to fail, potentially causing permanent damage to not only the engine but also the gaskets, hoses and seals that are designed to keep the engine running.
Conclusion
Overheating doesn’t necessarily mean the car is on fire. Especially if you notice steam coming out of the hood of your car. It can be so easy to forget to maintain the fluid level. Relax, park carefully in a safe place, and turn off the engine.
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