Reasons Your Car Is Overheating — Infographic

There’s a Leak in Your Cooling System

A leak in your cooling system won’t directly cause your engine to overheat. Most times, direct air getting into the cooling system will cause overheating. When you experience a leak, your coolant level drops sucking in air. Air is lighter than the coolant, and when it rises to the top, it forms an airlock. Airlocks are large bubbles that prevent the efficient circulation of fluids in the coolant system, forcing the coolant to overheat.

You Have a Blockage

Having a blockage in your system can cause engine overheating. The direct cause of an overheating engine is the lack of coolant circulation in the system. Meaning, your coolant won’t be able to circulate through the radiator to disperse the heat, forcing your engine to overheat. Some of the things that can cause a blockage in the system include:

• Mineral deposits in the radiator
• Faulty thermostat
• Foreign objects in your cooling system

Faulty Water Pump

Water pump failure will cause your engine to overheat. Your car water pump is perhaps one of the most active components in your cooling system and is what is responsible for maintaining coolant circulation. Over extensive use, the impeller or bearing inside the water pump will wear out or even break off. The result is a bearing that won’t turn. If not checked immediately, your engine will begin to overheat moments later.

Dirty Oil

In rare cases, your engine could overheat due to dirty oil. Your engine oil plays a vital role in lubricating and cooling, which, in effect, prevents the buildup of excessive temperatures. This lubricating aspect helps reduce friction, that’s usually the main cause of heat. Dirty or contaminated oil will prevent proper lubrication causing temperatures to rise.