An easy-going family hops in the car, happy to be heading to the beach for the weekend. After several hours of driving, trouble strikes. The engine is smoking, and the family has to pull over. So, what now?
It feels like no summer horror movie is complete without this staple scene. But, you absolutely do not want to play it out on your next road trip! Be prepared if trouble strikes, and learn what to do (and not do!) if your engine overheats.
Why Do Engines Overheat? A Few Possible Reasons
Engines can overheat for many reasons. But at the end of the day, it’s because something is wrong in the cooling system and the heat cannot escape the engine compartment.
The root of the problem could be a leak in the cooling system; a faulty radiator fan; a broken water pump; a low engine oil level; or a failed thermostat. No matter the root of the problem, an engine that is overheating is something you want to address immediately.
Your engine can incur catastrophic, maybe even permanent, damage.
Cooling System Leaks
A car’s cooling system regulates heat coming from the engine when it circulates coolant through the temperature zones around the engine block and cylinder heads, and back to the radiator.
If leaks happen somewhere in the cooling system, your engine temperature will rise, eventually overheating. Coolant leaks usually come from a faulty hose, gaskets worn out, a cracked engine block, and even damage in the radiator.
Regular inspections and maintenance are the best way to avoid coolant leak problems and subsequent damage caused by an overheated engine.
Failing Water Pump
Coolant does not circulate on its own. A car’s coolant system relies on a water pump to push coolant around a working engine. So, when the water pump fails, coolant flow will be disrupted causing it to overheat.
Pay particular attention to the water pump’s impeller, which is the spinning fan-like component that pushes coolant through the cooling system’s passages. Problems can occur if an old or obsolete impeller becomes stuck, or blocked, or simply won’t rotate.
If there is no flow of coolant, watch engine temperatures rise quickly, and when a water pump fails and needs replaced.
Bad Radiator
Among the components of your vehicle’s cooling system, the radiator could be considered the command centre since a mix of coolant and water is circulating constantly from the radiator to the engine to absorb additional heat.
Then when that used water/coolant mixture returns to the radiator, it is cooled down through a series of fins that extract the heat from the contents.
So, how could a radiator go bad? Blocked passages can cut of coolant flow limiting the expense away from the engine, damaged or bent fin can make it harder for the radiator to extract heat from the returning coolant, and ultimately with leaks draining the system of coolant altogether, which is very bad and your vehicle’s cooling system is not functional.
Low Engine Oil Level
Car engines have many moving parts that ignite fuel to propel your vehicle into motion – far too many parts to mention. Engine oil provides the lubrication to capture each engine component to reduce the heat-generating friction these moving parts produce.
If engine oil levels are too low, poorly lubed parts will create friction and build up heat. In tandem, engine oil also provides insulation, or resistance to heat. Effectively, engine oil is designed to bring heat away from the engine, same as coolant would. If engine oil levels are low and friction exceeds tolerance levels for the engine oil, heat stress and/or catastrophic failure may occur.
By staying current on regular engine oil changes is the best solution to avoid this problem. Don’t ignore the indicators, like your dashboard oil light, and if applicable, get your car to a technician ASAP! Better safe than sorry.
Thermostat Failure
Your vehicle’s cooling system uses a thermostat near the engine to let that coolant out when the heat climbs. If that thermostat isn’t working, you can take the cooling system off balance.
If the thermostat can’t see high temperatures, it will not let coolant into the engine and it can (and will) overheat.
If the thermostat has failed in a way that it allows coolant to flow all the time, it will take the engine forever to get up to operating temperature. The best way to avoid this is to maintain a regular cooling system needs, with coolant fluid exchanged at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals.
Signs Of An Overheating Engine
The general thing you can do to prevent irreversible engine damage, is to cool your engine down before it overheats to a point of failure, but you must first recognize the signs of an overheating engine, such as:
- Steam (which can appear as smoke) coming from under the vehicle hood.
- An engine temperature gauge on the dashboard rises to the “H” or red –the symbols of an engine temperature gauge will vary, check your owner’s manual for the symbols.
- You notice a strange smell emanating from the engine area…. releasing coolants can often smell sweet while leaking oils can smell burnt, and may differ for upper/lower engine leaks.
If you suspect that your engine is overheating, take the following steps immediately, and make arrangements to get to the nearest repair shop.
What To Do If Your Engine Overheats?
1. Cut The A/C And Turn on The Heat.
The easiest way to help your engine is to turn off the air conditioner and turn the dial to maximum heat. This may help siphon heat away from the engine so you can pull over to a safe location.
You might get a little hot yourself, but suffering for a few minutes is very small compared to having to deal with the repairs of a major engine overhaul.
2. Find A Safe Place to Pull Over.
Stop the engine and let the engine cool down for at least 15 minutes while you pull over. The temperature gauge should get closer to the normal range if the engine is cooling down, so check the temperature gauge before proceeding.
In the meantime, while waiting (and watching the gauge), formulate a plan to get your engine to a repair shop. Call a friend for help, or a tow truck. We can also send a trained representative to tow your vehicle to the nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care store or assist with step number three.
3. Restart Your Engine
If you are not getting your vehicle towed, now it’s time to carefully restart your engine and drive to your nearest auto repair shop. Always watch the temperature gauge while driving. If it starts to rise, pull over again and give the engine a chance to cool before proceeding.
What Not To Do When Your Engine Overheats
1. Don’t Panic.
Your engine may be overheating, but you’ll be fine if you can resist swerving through traffic or slamming on your brakes.
2. Don’t Continue To Drive.
If your engine is overheating and still running, you’re not doing your engine any favors by remaining on the road. You could very well make it to your destination before it quits altogether, however, you may have caused very large (and costly) damages by continuing to run it.
3. Don’t Pop The Hood Straight Away.
When you finally pull off the road, give the engine time to cool before you open the hood and investigate. Opening the hood straight away can expose you to burns or injuries from hot steam or smoke. Patience is the key here. Wait until the engine temperature gauge sets before opening the hood.
4. Don’t Ignore The Problem.
When your engine is overheating, it is not going to fix itself, even if you think it’s all good after adding a little coolant. It’s only going to get worse . Unless you properly address the issue, the nightmare will only amplify.
Do yourself a favor and get to the bottom of the issue, if you want to get your engine saved. Drive your car to your mechanic, and he will inspect your car and will offer some suggested fixes for you.
How To Stop A Car Engine From Overheating?
Maintain your vehicle, and it will maintain you.
The most effective way to keep your car engine from overheating is to keep it inspected regularly, and have coolant exchanges needed for your vehicle every two years, plus keep up on all of the radiator maintenance your car manufacturer recommends.
Regular inspections can fix or prevent radiator and engine problems before they become worse.