Why Does a Car Overheat?

Why Does a Car Overheat?

If you didn’t know, hot temperatures might not be the sole cause of your car’s overheating. There are a number of problems having to do with the engine or the cooling system that may be the actual causes of your troubles.

1. Motor oil

The motor oil is responsible for the lubrication of parts, but also for removing any excess heat that the engine may have generated. This is why if the oil is low, the car may be running hotter than it should.

2. Coolant

Every car has a cooling system - it is of vital importance. The purpose of the cooling system is to keep the temperature of the engine down. If there is an issue with it (such as a leak, a pump malfunction or a blockage), the coolant will not be circulating properly. Problems with the cooling system are not restricted to just the summer - they may appear in cold weather as well. You might be asking yourself why. Simple - the coolant inside the reservoir can freeze and, consequently, circulation would be prevented.

3. Radiator fan

There is a possibility that you are experiencing motor mechanical problems which could lead to the radiator fan not turning on or not running at the right speeds. This can also be a cause for the vehicle to overheat.

4. Car thermostat

The function of the thermostat is to regulate the amount of coolant flowing through the engine. So, as you can imagine, if the thermostat has a malfunction and is broken for some reason, this could also be the cause of the vehicle’s overheating.

Bear in mind that those are not the only reasons that can be the cause for the vehicle to overheat. Ideally, your car will not overheat; however, if it does, it is best to have a professional mechanic take a look at it, instead of trying to determine the cause by yourself and ‘fixing’ the wrong thing.