Reasons a Car Will Overheat: 6 Causes Explained at Carr Chevrolet in Beaverton

 

If your car is overheating, keep the engine cool and have the vehicle towed to our service center at Carr Chevrolet. We'll take a close look at the cooling system, beginning with these six common causes of engine overheating.

6. Coolant Leak

The role of coolant is to flow through channels in the engine, drawing heat away from the hot metal parts inside. As it flows through the system, it travels through various hoses, reservoirs and valves, all of which could one day spring a leak. Coolant is usually orange or green in color with a very sweet aroma -- so, if you notice a puddle of sweet-smelling green or orange liquid pooling under your car, you know you've probably got a coolant leak. If there isn't enough coolant in the system your engine could begin to overheat.

 

5. Low Oil Level

Coolant plays a major role in keeping the engine at a safe temperature, but so does engine oil. Engine oil also flows throughout the engine, lubricating moving parts and keeping metal parts from scraping and scratching one another. As it does so, it also helps to keep the engine cool.

If your engine is leaking or burning oil, you might not be able to tell quite so easily as a coolant leak. However, you should see a warning light come on in the dashboard to let you know you have insufficient oil in the engine. When you do, have the system topped off as soon as possible, or risk overheating.

 

4. Contaminated Coolant

Not only do you need to have enough coolant in the cooling system to keep the engine, well, cool, you also need to have the right coolant in your car. Coolant is a blend of water and antifreeze, and if your car isn't equipped with the right blend for your climate, your engine could be at greater risk of overheating. And if too much rust and corrosion collects in the system over time, your coolant can stop performing as well as it should. That's why, every so often, you may need to have the coolant system flushed and refilled on your car.

3. Broken Thermostat

While very different from the thermostat in your house, the thermostat in your car is also responsible for temperature regulation. See, as your car's engine warms up, the thermostat remains shut, restricting the flow of coolant through the engine. Once it reaches the ideal operating temperature, the thermostat automatically opens, so coolant flows through the engine and the temperature stays in the sweet spot. If the thermostat gets stuck closed, coolant may not flow properly through the system, and you'll need a replacement thermostat installed.