Summers are harsh, especially when you live in a country closer to the equator. And one of the worst things that come out of this weather is the issues your car starts to experience for which you need to constantly keep a check on it and get it maintained for one reason or another. One of those problems is overheating.
While it’s true that the weather can’t be blamed for a car’s general heating problems, as it can happen during any season. But the reason why summer is emphasized is that during this season, the car’s engine is prone to getting a lot more overheated than during any other weather conditions. This is due to the temperature around the engine, the heat the engine itself generates, and the heat of the asphalt where the car is mostly parked. All these factors can be behind the car’s overheating problems.
While it’s true that we can’t control the temperature the car is surrounded by, we still have the option to maintain our car in a way that its engine remains safe from abnormal overheating. In this article, we’ll talk about some common reasons inside your car that may cause the vehicle to overheat.
1. Coolant Problems
One thing you need to keep an eye on is the coolant in your car that can cause overheating. If you’re using the wrong coolant, or the coolant-to-water ratio is wrong, your vehicle can have trouble staying cool. If your car didn’t overheat throughout autumn, winter, and spring, but started to overheat as soon as summers became a bit harsh, this could signal that the coolant in your car isn’t appropriate for it.
For this, you need to flush the entire coolant system, add the right coolants, or visit your automobile service provider for having your coolant system serviced.
2. Restricted Hose
If your coolant system is okay and there are no leaks in the car either, the next thing that can cause overheating is a blocked hose in the vehicle. Your car picks all kinds of dirt on a daily basis, traveling from one place to another. Even if you don’t go through any rough paths on your daily route, even the debris on the road can easily be picked up by the vehicle. These foreign particles can get inside your car, get mixed with the coolant and travel with them to the hose, and cause blockages, restricting the proper coolant flow and overheating the vehicle.
To get rid of this, again, you’d need to flush the coolant system. Doing so will dislodge any blocks caused by dirt and debris, restoring the functionality of your vehicle.
3. Damaged Water Pump
The water pump in the vehicle helps regulate the flow of coolant and water in your cooling system. If this pump gets damaged or malfunctions for any reason, the car can get easily overheated. Some common problems with water pumps include the following:
- Leaks in the pump
- Loose water pump pulley
- Damaged bearings
- Shifts in the pump shaft
- Eroded impeller vanes
4. Radiator Problems
Radiators develop a lot of problems, especially when your car and its radiator are old. Hence, if your radiator is clogged, bent/damaged, leaky or if its fan is not properly functioning, the heat occupied by the car won’t escape, resulting in overheating.
When you get the feeling that your radiator could be troubling the car, you need to consult your vehicle service provider or any Toyota professional for help and inspection. This way, you’ll be able to find out the exact problem and treat it through the same professionals.
5. Leaks in the Cooling System
In the cooling system of your vehicle, there are many areas that can suffer a leak; this is the most common reason behind an engine’s overheating. When this leak occurs, coolant experiences trouble flowing through critical parts in the engine, which results in heat building up without being released by the car’s radiator. To help you figure out this problem and fix it, it’s always recommended to contact a professional.
Common areas to suffer leaks in the system are:
- Thermostat housing
- Water pumps
- Hoses
- Head gaskets
- Radiator
A car can suffer through a number of problems throughout the year, depending on the season and the weather conditions you’re living in. From heater problems in the winter to overheating problems in the summer, there’s no rest for a vehicle owner when it comes to their car’s maintenance.
But if you take proper care of your car and regularly get it maintained, you won’t have to go through half the hustle everyone who isn’t as responsible or caring toward their car has to go through. Contact Toyota Creek Motors for more information.
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