Why Is My Car Overheating?

If your car is overheating, pull over at the first opportunity. There are several reasons a car would overheat, but it’s never safe to ignore this issue. So, why is your car overheating? While the issue usually has to do with your cooling system–your coolant, coolant hoses, radiator, and water pump–you might also be dealing with a lack of clean, usable engine oil. Find out what to do when a car overheats by learning more about each possible issue with Land Rover Monmouth.

What Does It Mean When Your Car Overheats?

What causes a car to overheat? Your vehicle naturally heats up as you drive in Rumson and Colts Neck, and it relies on several important components to keep its temperature in a normal range–roughly 195 to 220 degrees fahrenheit. So, what does it mean when a car overheats? You’re almost always dealing with one of the following issues:

• Cooling system leaks are the most common cause of an overheating engine. However, you’ll need to pinpoint the leak to solve the issue. It could be impacting your radiator, hoses, water pump, or head gasket. 

• Using the wrong coolant is also likely to cause your vehicle to overheat. Generally, this error is the result of an improper mixture of coolant and water. If you accidentally added more water to a pre-mixed (50% water, 50% coolant) solution, it won’t be effective in keeping your engine cool.

• A blockage in the coolant hose will prevent coolant from reaching parts of the engine. While modern vehicles are designed to prevent this issue from occurring, it’s still possible for dirt and grime to enter your hoses on your drives through Red Bank.

• Radiator issues are also common, but they’re more expensive to fix than the other issues we’ve discussed so far. Blockages, leaks, and damaged parts could all be contributing to the issue.

• A broken water pump will prevent the effective distribution of coolant. Whether you’re dealing with a leak or a shifted pump shaft, fixing this issue will require careful investigation.

• If you’ve gone too long between oil changes, or you’re dealing with a serious oil leak, the lack of usable oil may be causing your engine to overheat. Check your oil level monthly to catch issues like this before they balloon into expensive repairs.

What to Do When a Car Overheats

If your car is overheating, you need to assess the situation quickly. If you can’t pull over right away, turn on the heat at full blast to try and move the hot air away from your engine. In any event, you’ll want to stop the car as soon as possible, and refrain from driving it until the issue is resolved.

Your first instinct may be to open the hood. Don’t. Wait at least thirty minutes for the vehicle to cool down, or you’ll risk serious burns. Although it may be possible to add more coolant and drive directly to the nearest service center, you should play it safe and protect your investment by calling roadside assistance instead.

You Can Count on the Land Rover Monmouth Service Department!

If you really want to answer the question, “Why is my car overheating?”, then schedule service and let our team of experts get to the bottom of things. An overheating engine can cause permanent or even fatal damage to your vehicle, so don’t wait! We offer service and parts financing through Synchrony Car Care™, so you can get the help you need today.