We may be freezing, but just because it’s cold doesn’t mean that your car can’t overheat! Many people assume that overheating is a problem that only happens in warmer weather, but really, a car can overheat whether it’s 10 degrees or 90 degrees outside. Here’s why your car may be overheating this winter:
Low Coolant
This is the one of the most common problems that causes cars to overheat. When your car has low coolant levels, it won’t be able to cool the engine down. Sometimes coolant can leak—other times, it’s just because the coolant hasn’t been topped off or refilled in a while. Get some coolant from your local auto parts store or ask the service technician to refill it when you bring your vehicle in for service.
Failing Radiator
The primary function of a radiator is to regulate the temperature of the engine and keep it from overheating. Coolant moves through hoses from the radiator, through the engine, and back again to the radiator. The radiator can fail when coolant is low or if there is a leak in a radiator hose.
Bad Thermostat
A broken or jammed thermostat will stop coolant from flowing to the engine, causing it to overheat. It also keeps the coolant in the engine within a certain temperature range. If the thermostat’s valve is stuck in a closed position, the coolant has no way of reaching the engine. Bad thermostats can sometimes cause the check engine light to come on, so have a technician do a diagnostic scan to see if that’s the issue.
Low Oil Levels
A lack of oil can cause the engine to overheat due to friction and not enough lubrication. When this is the case, the engine doesn’t have any time to cool back down, and the water pump will have to work harder than usual, resulting in the engine overheating.
Getting coolant flushed to get rid of any contaminants is one way to prevent the engine from overheating. Checking coolant levels regularly can also help, as you’ll be able to see when the coolant level is too low. Keep up with regular oil changes and keep an eye on the temperature gauge while driving, too.
Auto Works has been providing top-of-the-line auto repair to the Twin Cities area since 1993.
