Factors Caused by Engine Overheating and Their Solutions
Overheating of the engine, as the name suggests, occurs when the engine temperature rises above normal levels, that is, overheats. The overheated engine will become inoperable and cause travel interruption. Although it does not give symptoms by emitting scary fumes from the hood as it used to be, it significantly affects the quality of the journeys. So why does the engine overheat? Let’s look at the details together…
How to understand the temperature?
Today’s vehicles have a temperature gauge. The needle in this indicator should not exceed 90. If it exceeds 90, it means that the engine is overheating.
Factors causing overheating
Engine overheating usually occurs for 5 reasons. These;
- Decreased coolant and fan failure: There are 2 types of cooling systems in engines, air or liquid. In liquid-cooled engines, the decrease in coolant causes ineffective cooling and overheating. In the air-cooled system, it occurs when the fan does not work effectively.
- Thermostat failure: The thermostat circulates the engine water and keeps its temperature at the ideal level. If the thermostat fails, the engine may overheat. Thermostat failure is usually detected by the fact that the pipes to the radiator are cold or warm even though the engine is warm.
- Air in the radiator: After the antifreeze or water change, the radiator may make air. The cracking of the cylinder head or the burning of the head gasket also cause air to form. The radiator that makes air can also cause the engine to overheat, triggering it to overheat.
- Leakage in the circulation pump: The circulation pump in the cooling system contributes to the water circulation by giving the water from the radiator to the cylinder under pressure in order to keep the engine temperature level at a certain temperature. If the temperature decreases as the vehicle accelerates and increases as it slows down, a leak is suspected in the circulation pump.
- Incorrect gear change and forcing the vehicle: The overheating of the engine can also be caused by user errors as well as the vehicle components. Overloading the vehicle beyond its capacity and incorrect gear shifting can also cause the engine to overheat and overheat.
What to do when the engine overheats?
When your vehicle’s temperature indicator turns on or you notice steam coming from your vehicle, immediately park your vehicle in a shaded area. In order to understand whether the engine is overheating, the first thing to do is to check the water level in the radiator. However, to do this, the engine must first be allowed to cool completely. Opening the radiator cap when the engine is hot can result in hot water splashing and burns due to the high pressure inside. If water is missing, it should be completed. If the cause of the overheating is not due to the lack of water, an authorized service should be sought for a solution and the factors causing the overheating should be investigated.
