What Causes a Car To Overheat?

If your car is running hot, don't wait for it to overheat before you address the problem. A normal, working vehicle's engine will not run hot and should fall around the middle of the temperature gauge on your vehicle. However, a variety of things can cause your vehicle to suddenly overheat. Below, we will discuss reasons why your car's engine overheats, and what preventative repairs you should make sure to schedule to avoid future issues.

Often, when your car overheats, there is an issue with the vehicle's cooling system. When your car cannot cool itself down properly while driving, you most likely have a leak or blockage in your vehicle's cooling components. For example, if your water pump needs to be replaced, it's probably leaking water. When you attempt to fill the water reservoir, but it continually leaks water, that generally means it will need to be replaced.

Additionally, you make need a hose replaced, or have a blocked hose. Either way, it's important to never drive a car with an overheating engine, as you'll end up costing yourself a lot of time and money in the end. The first thing to do when you notice that your car is overheating is to turn the engine off. You never want to drive while your engine is overheating, or you could completely ruin your engine, and cost yourself a lot of money.

There are several other reasons your car may be running hot, including, but not limited to: low oil levels, thermostat failure, too little or no coolant, radiator issues, and more. If you smell anything unusual or notice any smoke, chances are there's some kind of leak happening under the hood.

If you are noticing some leaking on your driveway, or your car has been running a bit too hot, don't wait too long! Reach out to a qualified mechanic as soon as possible. We're here to help, and can solve almost any issue you may have with your vehicle. If you need engine repair, we invite you to bring your vehicle to our auto repair shop today!