There are many reasons why your car won’t stop overheating, and all of them need to be addressed immediately to prevent further engine damage. Buellton Garage is going to list the common reasons for an overheating engine below, and we can assure you that no matter what you drive, we can fix it so that you don’t need to worry about the temperature gauge anymore.
There’s a Problem With the Coolant
Always make sure that your engine has the proper coolant in it to prevent it from overheating. Using the wrong coolant, or using a coolant that has not been diluted properly, can cause your engine to overheat all the time. Old and dirty coolant will also cause the engine to overheat, as will low coolant levels caused by leaks or dissipation.
There’s a Leak in the System
If you have a leak in your cooling system, it could be coming from the radiator, the radiator hoses, the overflow, the water pump, or the gaskets or seals. It’s important to get any cooling system leaks fixed right away because, naturally, the leak will reduce the amount of coolant in the engine. Too little coolant will cause the engine to overheat all the time.
The Cooling System Is Clogged
If it has been years since you’ve had your radiator system flushed and refilled, it could be that the system has been clogged and the engine coolant is not making its way all the way through the engine. Dirt and debris can clog the cooling system eventually if you are not faithful about having it flushed and refilled every 30,000 miles.
There’s a Problem With the Thermostat
The thermostat is the cooling system part that releases the coolant into the engine. Once the engine temperature reaches a certain point, the thermostat knows that if it does not release the coolant, the engine will overheat. Thermostats generally last about 100,000 miles. If yours is older than that, it may have failed.
There’s a Problem With the Water Pump
The same is true with water pumps. They last about 100,000 miles after which it is common for them to fail. The water pump circulates the coolant through the engine and, aside from failure, it can also spring a leak as mentioned above.
There’s a Problem With the Radiator
Finally, the radiator is where the coolant goes to cool off after it has circulated through the engine. The radiator has a fan and air inlets to help it cool off the coolant. If the fan is malfunctioning or the inlets are blocked, the coolant will not be cooled down before it is recirculated through the engine. Older radiators can also rust through the bottom due to corrosion.
Buellton Garage in Buellton, CA, will get on top of your engine overheating problems. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.