Why does a car engine overheat?
There are many different reasons that can cause an engine
overheat, but they all have in common three aspects. The three
aspects which all engine overheat factors have in common are
that they cause that the heating system can not get rid of heat,
they cause a loss of coolant or they directly cause too much
heat in the engine.
One first problem which might be the cause of an engine overheat
is a problem with the radiator cap and the pressure it holds. If
the radiator cap does not hold pressure correctly then coolant
could boil and therefore the engine would overheat. Another
reason might be caused by thermostat failures; it is
recommendable that you check it.
The car engine might also overheat due to coolant leaks such as
those from the radiator, the hoses, the water pump, the freeze
plugs or any others. Also, problems in the water pump could be
the cause and therefore you should check it and replace it in
case it is needed.
Some other reasons by which the car engine could overheat are
problems in the exhaust system which you can discover by
checking vacuum readings, pipes and converter. Besides, you
should also make sure that the radiator hose has not collapsed
and the ignition timing is working properly.
You should also check the electric cooling fan by making sure
that the fan motor, the relay and temperature are correct or
otherwise it could cause the engine to overheat. Besides this,
you should also check the radiator in case there are any debris
in it as well as you should check its hose in case it has
collapsed.
It is also recommendable that you check the antifreeze
concentration which should be 50/50 in order to be correct,
otherwise it could cause the car engine to overheat. If you do
not find why your engine does overheat, you should ask a
mechanic or an expert for advice. You should not try to fix this
if you do not have the proper tools and general car knowledge
necessary for it.