One of your car’s biggest enemies is heat. That’s because even though the engine produces a lot of heat, that heat is extremely damaging to all of the various parts in the engine. Here’s what Professional Automotive Services wants you to know about engine overheating and its causes.
Old or Dirty Oil
If the oil in your car’s engine is dirty or old, that can keep it from cleaning and lubricating the engine. That also contributes to the engine running hotter than it should run. This can happen even if you think you’re getting oil changes when you’re supposed to. One way to make sure that you keep on top of the oil situation is to check your oil yourself in between services. You’ll be able to see if there’s enough oil and if that oil is clean enough to keep up with the engine’s needs.
Coolant Levels Are Too Low
One of the biggest causes of engine overheating is that coolant levels are way too low to keep up with the engine’s demands. This might happen because the coolant just needs to be topped up, or it could be because there’s a leak somewhere that has allowed coolant to escape. Regardless, this is a big problem that you can avoid by simply checking your coolant levels periodically to make sure that there’s enough in the reservoir.
Problems with the Cooling System
It isn’t just the coolant that can cause a problem with overheating, though. If the radiator isn’t working properly or another piece in the cooling system has failed, that’s going to be enough to cause the engine to overheat. Regular service appointments can help to spot problems that might lead to these failures well before they become a problem for your car’s engine.
Head Gasket Failure
Immediate and catastrophic overheating can occur if the head gasket in the engine fails. This seal keeps the engine block and cylinder head sealed off from each other. Over time, that seal can weaken and ultimately fail. You’ll immediately see the engine overheat and likely won’t be able to run the engine again at all.
If you’re trying to figure out what’s causing your car’s engine to overheat, call Professional Automotive Services in Greenwood, SC today. We can diagnose the trouble so that you can get the right repair the first time. Then you’ll be back on the road again without having to worry that the engine will run too hot.