Why Is Your Car Overheating? Common Causes and How to Fix Them
Why You Can Trust EverQuote
EverQuote powers millions of shopper requests every month, teaming up with industry-leading insurance specialists to address real-world challenges faced by people every day. We partner with the largest insurance providers in the nation, and our content is carefully crafted by experts and reviewed by licensed insurance agents for accuracy and relevance.
Has your car been overheating lately? The answer to "What causes a car to overheat?" can range from simple to serious, but it’s frustrating in every case.
If not addressed promptly, an overheating car and excess heat can lead to costly repairs. This guide examines potential overheating car issues related to your water pump, radiator fan, coolant level, engine temperatures, and more.
Understanding Car Overheating
While car overheating causes can vary, when you recognize and understand potential issues, you're more prepared to deal with them and less likely to find yourself stranded by the side of the road.
Common Causes of a Car To Overheat
If you're asking yourself, "Why is my car overheating?" here are the most common causes:
- Low coolant levels: Coolant, the mixture of water and antifreeze that moves through the engine to the radiator and transfers heat away from critical engine parts, is essential for your car’s functioning. If your vehicle has low coolant levels, it likely has a leak that prevents the engine from cooling effectively. This is one of the top causes of engine overheating, and if left unattended, low coolant can destroy your engine.
- Malfunctioning thermostat: Your car’s thermostat determines how much coolant is needed. A faulty thermostat can prevent coolant from reaching the engine or allow too much to enter the engine quickly, causing the car to overheat.
- Radiator issues: After absorbing engine heat, coolant passes through the radiator to cool down. If your radiator is damaged or the fan isn’t working, the coolant won’t cool properly, and the engine temperature will continue to rise. Radiator issues can include a broken fan, a leaking hose, a cracked cap, and more.
- Broken water pump: The water pump circulates coolant through the engine and can cause an overheated car when on the fritz.
- Failing cooling fan: Your vehicle’s radiator fan helps cool the engine, so when you have a broken fan blade, a motor that’s not working properly, or electrical issues, you might also have a car overheating.
How To Identify Overheating Issues
For better or worse, it is typically easy to identify overheating issues in a car. The temperature gauge on your dashboard might tick up toward the red or “hot” area.
Here are a few other ways to determine if your car is overheating:
- There is steam rising from under the hood of your car. You may literally see the steam or smoke seeping out from under the hood. Likewise, your hood might feel very hot to the touch.
- You smell something. Sometimes, an overheating car might smell sweeter, which is a sign of coolant that is very hot, but it often smells like something is burning.
- You see something. You might notice wet spots on the ground due to leaking coolant.
- Your car isn’t driving right. Performance issues are also common. These can include loss of power, difficulty accelerating, thumping sounds, or other challenges on the road.
What To Do if Your Car Overheats
If you detect anything amiss or sense that your car might be overheating, turn off the air conditioning if it’s running and turn on the heat to draw heat away from the engine. Pull over safely and as soon as possible. Give the engine at least 15 minutes to cool off before you open the hood to prevent potential burns.
After the engine has cooled, you can check oil levels and look for obvious coolant leaks. If needed, add motor oil or radiator fluid if you have them available, then call a repair shop. Your car may need to be towed.
High engine temperatures, faulty coolant hoses, and broken thermometers won't go away on their own, so make sure you have your vehicle examined as soon as possible.
The Importance of Regular Maintenance
Car maintenance keeps your vehicle running well and can prevent serious issues from happening and steep repair bills from adding up. Regular maintenance can help with everything from improved safety to fuel efficiency to overall function, so you should be familiar with your owner’s manual and follow recommended maintenance schedules.
How Preventative Maintenance Can Save You Money
No one wants to take their car into the shop, but it’s something every driver should do. Preventative maintenance will save you money in the long run by spotting potential issues before they turn into roadside hassles and expensive repair bills. Preventative maintenance can increase the lifespan of your vehicle and save you time and money.
Protect Your Vehicle and Wallet: Get the Right Car Insurance
The right car insurance is another smart strategy for saving time and money and taking good care of your car. Visit EverQuote to compare online auto insurance quotes and find the most affordable and complete insurance coverage for your current and future driving needs.