How to Avoid Overheating Your Car: Easy Maintenance Tips

Your shiny car is essentially a complex machine that has the ability to run for hours together without breaking a sweat. In certain conditions, the vehicle might overheat due to several multifarious reasons which could arise from lack of fluids, malfunction or mere lack of service. In this article we show you the several reasons of car overheating and ways to avoid this misfortunate incident happening at the odd hour. We strive to inform you to keep your prized possession in ship shape so that you enjoy a perfect drive each time you turn the ignition key.

Biggest Reason of Engine Overheating

The most frequent reason of a car overheating is simply because of extreme weather conditions. Of course, a brand new car with fresh vital fluids will never break down due to overheating, but the same cannot be said for a fairly used vehicle and especially an old jalopy that have covered incalculable miles. Another reason of overheating occurs due to leakage in the coolant system which lowers the pressure of the radiator fluid and blows a head gasket (rarely). Factors contributing to cooling system leakage may include seals failure or insufficient air flow to the engine.

In cars that have air cooled engines such as the Karmann Ghia and older VW bugs and transporters, it is necessary to keep the engine fins clear of debris and ensure the cooling fan does not have any obstructions. Water/ liquid cooled (older) engines tend to get leaks in the cooling system which results in overheating of the motor. In a nutshell, any pressure drop in the cooling system has the possibility to overheat the car and prolonged usage in such conditions may also seize and damage the engine.

Overheating Issues with Modern and Older Cars

Older vehicles have a tendency to become more prone to engine problems, mostly due to their age. Technology used in earlier times was not modern and hence the engine blocks of older generation cars tend to accumulate grime and debris overtime. Periodical cleaning and careful washing of the engine bay will ensure a healthy motor and you will notice any undulations clearly in a clean engine bay. Also, regular inspection of the engine area will keep you informed of anything’s amiss and you will be able to spot any irregularities better. Modern cars, just like older cars, come with a thermostat and are prone to clogging if the engine bay is not kept clean. Any car with a damaged/ clogged thermostat will eventually heat up causing severe damage to the engine. Hence, it again becomes vital to keep a neat and tidy engine bay and inspect the area regularly.

Failure of Water Pump

Contemporary cars are technologically advanced than their older counterparts and do not give up proper functioning that easily. However, in situations like a water pump failure could bring spells of terror and could play havoc with the car’s engine, making it overheat. Water pump failure could arise due to a broken serpentine (fan) belt or mechanical failure, and this occurrence results in ceasing of water/ fluid circulation around a water-cooled engine. In case the fan belt is broken down and you are stuck in the middle of nowhere, you could improvise by using a tie or some other cord and drive the vehicle to the nearest garage. Water pumps are costly components if bought over the counter, but you could always opt for genuine best quality used parts to save money.

Overheating Problems in Extreme Climates

There are certain conditions in which a car’s engine could overheat also in the colder seasons. This happens when the coolant to water ratio is under or over the recommended level and it tends to become thick in colder climates. This liquid of thick consistency has a tendency to clog the cooling system hoses and eventually overheat the motor. However, if you face problem overheating problems in the summers, you must immediately turn off the AC, open the windows and pull over to a safe side of the road. Turn the heater on to channel the hot air into the cabin which will in turn lessen the temperature on the car’s engine. Try revving the engine lightly with the blower on to further channel hot air away from the engine.

Also try to use sparingly in bumper to bumper traffic conditions and while going downhill. Keep the vehicle in a lower gear while going downhill and crawl in heavy traffic conditions. Doing this will avoid overheating of the brake pads which could further prevent brake fade.