Engine overheating: reasons of this terrible disaster for the car

Experienced drivers face this problem at least once. Of course, this is not a verdict, and you can avoid this issue by following the rules of care and operation of the car. Timely engine maintenance and diagnostics will help avoid this problem. Before you figure out what causes an engine to overheat, let's figure out how serious this concern is.

How does the engine cooling system work?

We offer to understand what causes overheating of the engine, in more detail, but before that, we will stop at the engine cooling system. The cooling system is aimed at maintaining its optimum temperature. As you know, when burning fuel, only a third is converted into energy, the rest is warm. If, for one reason, the cooling system does not work, then the car will have a high engine temperature of 120 °C to 150 °C (250 °F to 300 °F).

The engine is cooled during the circulation of the coolant liquid, which absorbs this heat. The thermostat monitors the coolant temperature. This indicator can be read using inCarDoc when recording dynamic indicators. The heated coolant flows into the radiator, and air from outside (or from a cooling fan) blows across the radiator, carrying away the heat. After cooling down, the coolant flows back into the engine to absorb more heat, repeating the cycle. However, next we will dwell into engine overheating causes.

What causes a car to overheat

Clogged radiator

When the radiator is clogged, the heat transfer process is disrupted. It is necessary to clean the radiator from time to time, especially in summer. In addition to external cleaning, you need to pay attention to the internal system of the radiator and clean the hose pipes. The reason for car engine overheating can be hidden in The precipitate in the cooling system. It is mostly calcium and magnesium salts, especially if the coolant is diluted with hard tap water. The dense texture of sedimentary salts covers the channels, reduces fluid flow, and disrupts heat transfer. It is also noteworthy that externally, there are no signs of overheating. The problem can grow to such a high scale that it will damage the engine walls.

Sometimes, the radiator cap may not seal properly, causing a loss of pressure in the cooling system. Since higher pressure raises the coolant’s boiling point, any disruption can lead to an overheating car. The temperature gauge will show hot, often rising quickly into the red zone, indicating that the engine is running dangerously hot.

Leakage or insufficient amount of antifreeze.

It is necessary to monitor the level and quality of cooling agent. Coolant fluid may leak, so check the engine compartment for whitish stains. Any coolants cause deposits in the radiator system, however, poor-quality liquids have a generally aggressive effect on the car system.

Failure of the thermostat.

Thermostat dysfunction comes from precipitation in the radiator. For example, the mobility of the elastic element of the device is disturbed, and temperature measurements cease to be carried out. More generally, the theme of the breakdown of the thermostat considered here.

The failure of the sensor of the cooling blower.

If the car keeps overheating, it could be due to a malfunctioning sensor, often caused by poor-quality antifreeze or sediment buildup in the cooling system. At the bottom of the radiator (where the sensor is located), dirt settles. It disrupts the process of reading temperature data.

Some more reasons why my car is running hot

• Pump (water pump) failure. Pump failure is not the most common problem, but it happens on cars with high mileage. There are only three reasons: failure (turning) of the plastic impeller, jamming of the pump bearing, leakage of coolant.
• Disorders in the settings of the ignition system. A failure setting in the ignition system (the moment the fuel combustion starts and the inlet valve opens) leads to a sharp increase to engine temperature hot level.
• Exhaust valve burnout. If there is a crack in the valve, it is activated, before passing high-temperature gases.
• Air entering the system. This is the most common cause of overheating of the motor, which is a consequence of previous factors. Caused by 1) boiling coolant; 2) violation of the pressure in the system; 3) cracks in the cylinder block gasket cylinder head (cracks, fractures, etc.).
• Poor quality engine oil. Poor engine oil will hit all the systems of the car, which will eventually start a chain reaction, until the engine, but will stop working. Remember, the use of low-quality oil is fraught with major breakdowns of the car.

Working conditions, driving style, and other nuances: Do not forget about the operation of the car. For example, the movement uphill, off-road in the summer, in an overloaded car is all the tougher conditions of the engine. If you do not give the car a rest, (and what is important, do not follow the level of coolant and temperature), most likely, the motor will overheat.

You won't miss it

Now, you can understand:"why is my engine overheating? ". But how to understand that it is happening? 

The first sign that will indicate engine overheating is an increase in temperature on the dashboard. The temperature arrow of the coolant enters the red zone or the overheating indicator lights up. You can also read this indicator in inCarDoc. In addition, you can conduct a diagnosis that will indicate an error that could lead to an increase in temperature. 

Another noticeable signal of overheating is steam or smoke from under the hood. It is better not to bring to this, the engine has already overheated, and is working on the limit, and will soon stop. In this case, the consequences can not be avoided, and your car needs professional help.

The smell of burning in the cabin from burnt plastic or rubber insulation is an excuse to stop.

Loss of engine power. This is another sign that novice drivers may not notice. The car loses dynamics, pulls badly.

Another sign can indicate a lot of problems. And this is a knock or extraneous noise from the engine. In any case, this is an opportunity to diagnose or inspect the car.

Coolant problems: antifreeze leakage, low level in the expansion tank can also cause your track to overheat.

Automatic shutdown of the air conditioner, a signal for owners of some cars, stop or reduce the load. Systems automatically turn off the air conditioner when overheating to reduce the load on the engine.

Triple engine or unstable idling, another harbinger of problems, which will pay attention to more experienced drivers.

What to do when a car overheats

There are three stages of engine overheating. Weak (5-10 minutes at high temperature), significant (10-20 minutes) and strong (more than 20 minutes).

Here's what to do if you notice engine overheating:

Stop safely on the roadside or in a safe place. Turn off the engine to stop further heating. The hood must be opened, but do not rush and be careful that you are not blown around with hot steam.

After cooling, check the level of antifreeze in the expansion tank. If there is a possibility and the liquid is at a minimum - add distilled water or antifreeze.

If after movement, the engine overheats again, unfortunately it is necessary to stop and call a tow truck.

Now, you know what to do if your car overheats. 

 You can also diagnose the condition of the engine through the OBD2-skaner. To complete this, use a Bluetooth ELM327 adapter that connects to the diagnostic connector of the car. After connecting, you can:

1. Check the coolant temperature in real time. 2. Read error codes (for example, if there are failures due to overheating). 3. Monitor the operation of sensors, such as thermostat and some others.

Hope now you get the reasons "why is my car overheating?" 

At weak engine’s overheat, it doesn't lead to serious consequences. Overheating of the average force is able to deform the cylinder head. A significant overheating can lead to the fact that the piston and connecting rod will break through the side wall of the engine.