Coolant Leak and Other Reasons for an Overheated Engine

Do you know what your engine’s temperature should be? A normal operating range is between 195 to 220 degrees F. When the temperature rises above this limit, the engine overheats and problems ensue. If your engine has overheated due to a coolant leak or other reason, the experienced mechanics at Best Auto Repair in Longmont will quickly diagnose the problem and resolve it.

Causes of an Overheated Engine

• Coolant leaking from the water pump, radiator, hoses, freeze plugs, heater core, thermostat housing, head gasket, automatic transmission oil cooler, cylinder heads and block.
• Failing thermostat that does not open when needed, thereby blocking release of coolant.
• Clogged radiator, either externally with debris or internally with sediment, that restricts airflow.
• Broken cooling fan or malfunctioning fan clutch that also causes inadequate airflow through the radiator.
• Worn or loose water pump impeller that interrupts circulation of coolant.
• Blocked catalytic converter or exhaust pipe preventing heat from exiting the system and causing a build up in the engine.
• Defective radiator cap- without being properly kept under pressure, coolant will boil at 225 degrees while a functional 15 PSI cap will allow the coolant to reach 265 before boiling.

 

Overheating can cause serious damage to most engines. Possible problems caused by overheating include: overhead cam breaking, hoses bursting, damage to exhaust valves, blown head gasket, abrasion to pistons and cylinders and damage to rings, pistons and/or rod bearings. All car owners want to avoid these costly repairs caused by overheating and the best chance of doing that is by turning the engine off, letting it cool down, then having it assessed as soon as possible.

A coolant leak is the most common cause of an overheated engine, and having Best Auto Repair conduct a pressure test of the cooling system and radiator cap will quickly pinpoint the problem and have you back on the road in no time. Call us today so you can plan a summer road trip without worrying about your car staying cool under pressure!

Source: http://www.aa1car.com/library/overheat.htm