When you suddenly realised something was amiss with your car. You noticed the peculiar scent coming from the engine area and saw smoke emerging from beneath the hood of your car. All of it clearly showed that your automobile was overheating when the temperature gauge on the dashboard read “H” or red light.
Everyone is negatively surprised when a car overheats because we all know it is an unpleasant experience. We will tell you 14 reasons according to our tow company experts, that could be the cause of your automobile overheating.
Prior to that, we will give you the best tips from our experts from a tow company in Brisbane for handling an overheating car. In addition, we will also provide you with tips from Brisbane’s tow service experts on how to avoid it in the future.
Our experts from a tow company in Brisbane suggest the following measures when your car overheats.
How Should I Handle An Overheating Car?
Unfortunately, this happened, and you need to respond appropriately and swiftly. This is what you ought to do.
Close the windows and switch off the air conditioner. This will assist the engine cool off and put less strain on it.
Increase the heater and blower settings if the overheating persists. This will cause the heat to be transferred from the engine to the passenger vehicle segment. Get a little warm if it means preventing serious damage to your car.
Our experts from a tow company in Brisbane recommend not to drive and find a secure spot to stop and turn off the automobile right away. Overheating an engine while it’s running will only increase harm. Put the car in park or neutral and slightly rev the engine if you are stalled in traffic and the temperature gauge starts to increase.
As a result, the water pump and fan will run faster and the radiator will be filled with more liquid and air. The increased circulation of air and liquid aids in cooling the environment.
After turning off the automobile, give the engine 15 to 30 minutes to cool. Avoid attempting to open the hood of the automobile to investigate what is happening because you run the danger of getting burned or hurt from steam or smoke inhalation.
As the engine cools, the temperature indicator should return to a normal range, so keep an eye on it. You can get assistance from a friend, a mechanic, or a roadside assistance company while you wait for the engine to cool down.
You should not be operating your vehicle in that state, thus you might require towing services to have your vehicle’s systems evaluated. You can examine the situation that led to the overheating on your own in the interim.
If you have the right tools, you can handle some problems on your own without any assistance, but if you lack those skills, you should not attempt to fix the problem alone. Now you know what are the initial steps you must take when your car overheats, you must be wondering what would be the cause of this.
According to our experts from a tow company in Brisbane, these are the 14 reasons for your car to overheat:
Let’s face it, you didn’t properly maintain your car, and as a result, you are now paying the price. This car problem is merely a reminder to you to be more responsible and cautious in the future when it comes to car maintenance.
But it still happened, and now you are curious as to why. Well, according to the expert tow company in Brisbane there are 14 often occurring causes of car overheating.
1. Not Having Enough Coolant:
It is one of the biggest reasons behind the overheating of the car according to our tow company expert. Checking whether the cooling system has enough coolant should be your first step. The coolant level ought to be almost at the maximum.
The engine will quickly begin to overheat while you are stuck in traffic if there is not enough coolant. Simply add the right proportion of antifreeze and water to the vehicle to solve this issue. Make sure the engine is cold and that at least 30 minutes have passed since you turned off your car.
2. Your Coolant Is Leaking:
A second issue, coolant leakage, may be indicated by the low coolant level. One of the main reasons why cars overheat is because when all the coolant leaks out, the only thing keeping the engine cool is the outside air.
Our experts from a tow company in Brisbane shared a hack to figure out if the leaking liquid is oil or something else. Place a piece of paper underneath the area where the fluid is leaking to verify the colour of the fluid and make sure it is not oil.
3. Your Cooling Fan Is Malfunctioning:
When the air conditioner is running or when the temperature reaches a specific level when you turn off the automobile, the cooling fan should activate to keep the engine from overheating.
If it does not function, there can be a blown fuse or an issue with the connections, sensors, or fan motor. Our tow company experts explain that these reasons may seem so negligible yet they often cause this issue.
4. Your Thermostat Is Not Working Properly:
Even if the coolant level is at its maximum, the system could still be experiencing issues like a broken thermostat. To keep the engine from overheating, the thermostat controls the flow of coolant based on engine temperature.
The issue arises if the thermostat is malfunctioning, broken, jammed open, partially open, or opened at the incorrect temperature. If the thermometer is malfunctioning, you can also observe strange temperature jumps and even coolant leaks.
A car thermostat replacement is a simple process that won’t take much of your time or money.
5. Your Oil Is Leaking:
Finding oil in the radiator is a big problem whether it is engine or transmission oil.
Transmission oil may enter your cooling system if the transmission oil cooler within your radiator leaks. A damaged cylinder wall or engine head can also cause engine oil to spill into the radiator.
If there is oil in your coolant, you should not operate your car. To avoid more damage, it is preferable to call the roadside help company to have your automobile towed as quickly as possible to the car service. The expense of solving these issues is already very high.
6. Your Head Gasket Is Damaged:
According to our experts from a tow company in Brisbane, this is one of the most common yet often overlooked factors behind overheating. It always requires immediate attention. There may be bubbles in the cooling system, white smoke emanating from the tailpipe, unexplained coolant loss without leaks, and white colour in the oil as symptoms of a blown head gasket.
Bubbles in the system indicate that compression and antifreeze are mixing, therefore you should use a fluid tester to check your system for CO2.
7. Not Having Proper Hose Clamps:
Nothing should be leaking out of the hose when you look behind the hose clamps. Your hose clamps may snap off, slip off, or rip through the hose if they are weak. Damage to the hoses will further impede the appropriate flow of coolant through the cooling system, leading to engine overheating.
Make sure not to purchase the cheapest hose clamp because it may not grip correctly and won’t last as long as a more expensive kind.
8. Your Radiator Hose Is Leaking:
According to our experts from the tow company in Brisbane, due to the fact that some hoses only leak when under pressure and at specific moments, this issue might not always be apparent.
When the clamp appears to be the issue, you might be tempted to just tighten it, but that won’t solve the problem. To determine the correct reason, thoroughly inspect the hoses and clamps and search for soft places, oil spots, rub marks, and pinhole leaks.
9. You Have A Clogged Radiator Patflows:
When paper, dirt, or other debris obstruct the radiator’s airflow, this problem may arise.
The grill or the space between the grille and the radiator should first be checked for obstructions. Air cannot pass through the radiator and transport heat out of the antifreeze if the grille or front of the radiator is obstructed.
After that, you can look for debris in the small space between the condenser and the radiator. Just be careful not to come too close to the radiator’s fins and damage or crush them when using the self-service vehicle wash hose to clear everything out.
10. Your Heater Core Is Blocked:
Brisbane’s towing service experts believe that a heat exchanger built into your engine distributes heat and keeps it from overheating. Engine overheating results from this core not being able to remove heat if it is even slightly blocked or clogged.
Look to see if the exchanger has any debris. If there is, clean it because doing so will help to address the issue. But if the heating core is still obstructed, you’ll need to take it to the mechanic for a thorough examination.
11. Your Fan Shroud Is Damaged Or Missing Entirely:
Your engine will run cooler as a result of the fan shroud’s assistance in directing air through the radiator. Additionally, it shields the radiator from the heat of the engine. You should replace your fan shroud as soon as possible if it cracks or breaks because doing so would result in poor airflow, which may cause overheating.
12. Your Radiator Cap Is Incorrect:
There are several distinct ways in which a faulty radiator cap can result in an issue. The coolant could first vent out or leave the cooling system if it can not keep the pressure inside. Second, it might not be able to raise the boiling point and maintain the appropriate pressure.
Finally, if the pressure builds up past a certain point, it might not be released as intended, which could lead to hose damage, radiator tank leaks, or other system failures.
13. Your Coolant System Is Clogged:
Brisbane’s tow service experts believe that it is one of the rare reasons behind the car overheating, as it takes a lot of time to create an entire blockage in the coolant system. However, it relies on the choices you make.
The use of tap water in place of coolant will result in scale buildup. Your hoses are also more likely to clog up if they have a tiny diameter. High-quality coolants have ingredients that prevent clogs, so using low-quality coolants is not the best option.
Use high-quality coolant, replace worn-out coolant hoses promptly (to avoid clogs and cracks), and steer clear of utilising tap water in the system. Replace the old coolant and thoroughly flush the engine if there is a clog somewhere in the engine canals.
14. Your Water-Pump Is Faulty:
If you are unable to identify the reason for the overheating, you should check the water pump, this is one of the most common pieces of advice by Brisbane’s towing service experts.
A faulty water pump is challenging to diagnose, which is the issue. Water pump problems can happen at any time, but they don’t necessarily have an obvious exterior indication.
The propeller being worn out or broken is one possibility, but you can not tell as it’s an internal problem. A water pump’s flaws are typically internal in nature. As a result, you (or a better technician) must remove the water pump in order to examine it and identify the problem.
We hope that with the help of Brisbane’s tow service experts, we were able to help you understand the reasons behind your car’s overheating issue. You can see that some of them have the potential to be serious, so don’t allow any issues to fester.
We strongly advise taking your vehicle to a technician for a professional inspection and repair. Keep in mind that regular maintenance and servicing will help you take better care of your car in the future.
All of these issues are undoubtedly unpleasant, so let’s look at some ways to avoid them in the future.
Top tips to prevent your car from overheating by Brisbane’s tow service experts:
The condition of auto parts and fluids cannot be maintained indefinitely. The greatest method to avoid any car problem, including car overheating, is through routine auto maintenance. So, here is some guidance on how to avoid it.
Brisbane’s tow service experts can not stress this enough to use the right coolant, and replace it often. The chemical qualities of coolants differ, therefore you must use the correct coolant for your car if you want to avoid overheating and corrosion. Remember to change it frequently to prevent buildup and clogging.
Replace automobile parts as needed. Nothing lasts a lifetime. The radiator, thermostat, water pump, belts, and hoses in your car all have a tendency to deteriorate and age with time, losing their ability to perform as intended. You must abide by the instructions in the manual that specify when to replace each component if you don’t want your automobile to overheat.
routine inspection is also highly recommended by every Brisbane tow service expert. Check the radiator cap, the coolant temperature sensors, and other components of the coolant system periodically to make sure everything is in working order.
Additionally, make sure the bumper inlets are free of dirt, leaves, and other objects that could obstruct airflow. Maintain the transmission and engine. Any issue with these components will impact the cooling system, which will cause the automobile to overheat.
In case your car still gets overheated and you are stuck in the middle of nowhere, then there is nothing to worry about! Contact Austow, a tow company in Brisbane any time of the day.