We cannot overstate how important it is to have the problem that is causing your engine to overheat resolved as soon as possible. Unfortunately, when the engine runs too hot, you may end up with additional damage that is expensive to repair. This damage includes a cracked head gasket or a cracked cylinder block. As such, bring your vehicle to our shop right away if it is overheating.
Leaking Coolant
One problem that will cause the engine to overheat is leaking coolant. The coolant can leak out of the radiator or the radiator hoses. It can also leak out of the water pump or thermostat. Coolant may leak out of the overflow reservoir or the seals and gaskets. No matter where the leak is in the cooling system, it is reducing the amount of coolant that is circulating through the engine.
Clogs in the Cooling System
Naturally, if you do not have enough coolant circulating through the engine, the engine is going to overheat. The coolant circulation can also be inhibited by clogs in the cooling system. The most common cooling system parts that clog include the radiator and the radiator hoses. You can prevent cooling system clogs by having your cooling system flushed every 30,000 miles.
A Faulty Water Pump
The water pump is to the cooling system what your heart is to your body. It circulates the coolant through the engine. The water pump may never need to be changed in your automobile unless you keep your vehicles for an extended period. The average lifespan of a water pump is 100,000 miles. After this time, you may end up with a faulty water pump that is unable to push the coolant through the engine.
A Dead Thermostat
The thermostat also lasts approximately 100,000 miles. Consequently, if you have more than this registered on the odometer, your car may be overheating because the thermostat has died. Usually, a car will overheat very quickly after it has been started if the thermostat is dead. The reason why the car overheats is that the thermostat does not release coolant into the engine.
Finally, you may be driving with an overheating engine because the radiator is damaged. As we mentioned above, it can leak or get clogged. The radiator can also be damaged by road debris because it is located directly behind the grille. The reason for this location is to allow the radiator to utilize the outside air to reduce the coolant temperature after it has circulated through the engine.