How to check for car overheating problems

This article is posted under Car maintenance

Car overheating problems are easy to diagnose even if you are not a professional car technician.  This just entails a little knowledge about the different car parts and their functions.  The following are just few of the basic car parts that you should check once you experienced car overheating.

Step 1:  See if there’s coolant or antifreeze leak in the radiator.

To determine if your car has heating problem, check if there is enough coolant or antifreeze in the radiator.  This can be seen by removing the radiator cap only when the engine is cold and then looking at the radiator.  See if the fluid level is at the recommended level.  You should check if the system has any leaks prior to adding more fluid.

Step 2:  Check the thermostat.

The biggest cause of overheating for older cars is the thermostat.  It is a simple device that controls the flow of the coolant into the engine, allowing it to stay and absorb heat and then flow out into the radiator to cool off.  Thus, a broken thermostat can make the engine too cool or too hot.  The most effective solution to this problem is to replace the thermostat.

Step 3:  Examine the fan.

In mechanical fans, the number one cause of overheating problems is the faulty fan clutch.  This reduces the fan’s cooling effectiveness up to 50%, which is dependent on its distance to the radiator.  This can be hot enough to cause the overheating of the engine during hot weather or when it is working hard.  A defective fan clutch is commonly overlooked as the cause of overheating, and so it should be checked carefully.

Step 4:  Inspect the belts and hoses.

In events of overheating, it is important to check for the belt tension and condition A belt that is loosely attached prevents the water pump from circulating the coolant  fast enough, or it also prevents the fan from turning fast for proper cooling.  The state of the hoses should also be checked in cases of overheating.  The hoses should not be over five years old.

Warning:  Sometimes a lower radiator hose will collapse under vacuum at high speed and restrict the flow of coolant from the radiator into the engine.  This can happen if the reinforcing spring inside the hose is missing or damaged.

The principal reason for overheating is caused by the decrease in the cooling system’s ability to absorb, transport, and dissipate heat.  A coolant leak, a defective thermostat, a faulty fan clutch, a collapsed hose, and a loose belt are just few of the many things that you should check in cases of overheating.  It is very important that prior to driving your car, you have geared yourself with the basic knowledge of these parts so you can eventually perform troubleshooting.

Photo Credit : foundphotoslj

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