Why is my car overheating? How do you fix it

Your car is an important part of your life. It helps you get from one place to another, giving you a sense of independence as well as convenience. In order to be able to enjoy the benefits that come with owning a car, it’s essential for your vehicle to have all its systems working properly and efficiently so it can stay on the road.

But one thing that makes a person worried is when the engine starts heating, and there you start thinking ‘why is my car overheating?’

If your car starts overheating, this could be a sign that something isn’t right and needs fixing immediately before things get worse. Car overheating is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly. This is due to some problems or malfunction of the engine. Your car’s temperature gauge needle rises up quickly, and it’s time to think of what causes this issue.

If you don’t get this fixed quickly, it could lead to more damage or even causing your car to blow up. You want to avoid this at all costs! There are many reasons why your car might overheat and we’re going to go over the top 7 reasons why that happens and what to do when a car overheats, so you can fix it right away if it does happen. Let’s begin!

Top 7 reasons why is your car overheating

1. Overheated engine caused by hot climate

If your car is exposed directly under the sun in high temperatures with no air conditioning turned on, then this will cause an overheated engine quickly. Therefore, it is recommended to adjust your air conditioning system during a long trip with no air conditioning at all. If your dashboard indicates the warning sign for a low coolant level, then it’s better if prepare a container with coolant and fill it up.

2. Car’s cooling system is broken

It is a common problem that car overheating due to broken cooling system. That means you have a leak of coolant or a defective pump, radiator. In this kind of situation, you should address the issues as soon as possible to avoid damages to your engine.

3. The air conditioner doesn’t work properly

Your car’s air conditioner doesn’t work properly which results in hot weather inside your vehicle. It becomes uncomfortable and can cause severe problems such as overheating rapidly. If your air conditioning malfunctioned, then it is better if contact an expert to fix it since they know the most efficient troubleshooting techniques and procedures to solve the air conditioner.

4. Radiator is clogged

Another answer to the question ‘why is my car overheating’, is this reason. Your radiator is clogged that blocked the flow of coolant and there are no ways to get rid of the blockage except by taking it out. This method of fixing this problem will cost you around $900-$1,000.

5. Overheating due to faulty thermostat

The thermostat has stuck open or stuck closed which makes your car overheating more quickly than normal. The faulty thermostat might cause for severe damage due to overheat if not fixed immediately. A cheap way to fix this problem is by replacing it with a new one, but you need some expert’s help for that since they know how to take off the engine safely. There is also an alternative way to solve this issue by removing the thermostat entirely.

6. Coolant leaks due to cracked heater core

The heater core in your vehicle might develop a leak which you cannot notice due to low levels of coolant, and it makes your car overheating quickly. That’s why if you see any signs of leaking while driving, then turn off your engine immediately. You should replace the heater core as soon as possible if necessary since it is not safe for driving with temperatures rising up inside your car.

7. Low level of engine oil

Engine oil is a critical component of the engine cooling system, preventing buildup and excess heat. In fact, fuel can remove up to 80% or more if unneeded by removing it from cooling parts with its high flash point (which aids in this). Engine oils also keep various components lubricated which reduces friction leading to overall better performance through increased efficiency. Having low levels of oil also causes cars to be overheated.

How to prevent cars from overheating?

You can prevent your car from overheating by checking the cooling system every once in a while and do some repairs on time before severe damage occurs. That’s why you should own at least an automotive repair guide because if something goes wrong, you’ll know how to fix it quickly without spending much money on professional services for fixing minor issues such as this one.

An auto repair guide will also help you in this regard. The book will teach you how to check your vehicle’s cooling system regularly, and it tells what kinds of problems do occur when you fail doing so such as clogged radiator or faulty thermostat. You can fix these issues by yourself without worrying about expenses on some overpriced services offered by mechanics who are trying only make more money for themselves.

How do you fix a car that overheats?

These are some points that you must remember in order to fix a car that overheats.

• Regular checking of the heater core

Fixing the heater system in your vehicle is not that hard, all you need to do is to check regularly whether or not there are any signs of cracking located at the heater core which results in coolant leaks due to cracked heater core.

If it happens, then replace it with a new one since it causes severe damage when driving around in hot weather.

• Clean up thermostat

You can also take out the thermostat in order to clean it up in order to eliminate heat build-up during cold weather. However, you should remove the thermostat completely if overheating occurs frequently even after replacing the thermostat since it might be faulty or damaged already. You should turn off the engine and leave it alone until the problem is solved.

• Get immediate help when coolant leaks

When you notice any signs of coolant leaks, then call for help because you can get serious injuries if touching parts that contain hot coolant which might be extremely hot depending on how long your engine stays running.  As long as your engine continues running due to frequent heat build-up inside the engine, then wait until everything gets cooled down before doing any repairs.

• Fix clogged radiator immediately

If there are some warning signs such as clogged radiator or faulty thermostat, then fix them immediately so prevent further damages for your car since it results in accumulating bills on overpriced services offered by mechanics who only wants to make more money for themselves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several reasons why is your car overheating ranging from high temperature outside the vehicle, broken air conditioning system to clogged radiator which might cause major damages for your car especially if you ignore these problems until they get worse. If you want to prevent further damages to your car, then check the cooling system every once in a while and do some repairs on time before severe damage occurs. Share your feedback with us by leaving your comments below and what other methods you do to fix car overheating, do share with us.