You go out of the car and see that the smoke is coming from underneath your hood. This is a classic case of an overheated car engine.
If you own a car you know that there is a possibility that your car’s engine can happen and you’ll never know the damaging effects it can inflict.
If not remedied quickly, the damage can be permanent and costly to fix.
That is why you should take extra precautions to assess the damage and have it looked at sooner than later.
Car engines that overheat fast can be damaged and ruin how your car will drive.
So how do you fix a car that overheats? Keep on reading below.
Can an Overheated Engine be Fixed?
If you act quickly and promptly an overheated engine can be fixed in no time.
If you notice your engine overheats and smoke is coming out, do not panic and pull over. If you are knowledgeable about the engine, assess it yourself and see where the problem lies.
If this is not the first time this happens to you, you can try to fix it yourself, provided that you are absolutely sure of what the cause is.
If however, you have no prior knowledge on what to do, keep calm and call for a mechanic or a trusted friend or family to come over and have a check at your car.
If a service station is nearby, drive over there slowly and have a mechanic take a look.
How Much Does it Cost to Fix an Overheated Engine?
The short answer is it depends.
If the problem is a lack of coolant fluid then it would cost you the coolant fluid. ‘
A leaking short hose can also be quickly remedied. A new radiator can cost you a few hundred dollars.
But you need to keep in mind the cost can add up from the brand of the car, how old the car is, the expense of the materials used to replace the broken ones, and of course if you take it to a mechanic, the labor cost.
What are 10 Common Causes of Overheating?
1. Little or no engine coolant
When driving, check always if your coolant is at the appropriate level. Protect your car engine and prevent your car from overheating if you only have little or no coolant.
One of the effects of a low coolant level is a coolant system failure.
If you are unsure how much coolant or if you have antifreeze to put or where to put it, check your car manual for the recommended amount and location of the tank.
2. The cooling system has trapped air
Sometimes without you knowing small holes can happen and air can get trapped within the route of the coolant.
These air pockets can cause unwanted gas to accumulate and can disrupt the coolant from flowing.
If this happens the car has a hard time staying cool as the coolant level goes higher.
3. Heater core is plugged up
If you can sense that your car windows keep fogging up, there is a leak in your coolant so you can smell it even from inside the car, or the car can’t retain the temperature, these are signs that your heater core is clogged.
If the heater core is plugged up then this causes your car’s engine to overheat.
4. Faulty thermostat
The coolant passes through to the radiator with the help of the thermostat.
If the thermostat is broken and fails to do its job then the cooling system can’t function properly as the coolant gets stuck as the thermostat is clogged.
If this happens then your engine can overheat.
5. Car’s oil level is low
Make sure to check your oil levels as a low level of oil is an indication that your car engine can overheat.
Other than making sure that the car engine parts are oiled and lubricated, oil in the engine can regulate the overall temperature.
6. Issues with the hose, fans, and or water pump
Leaks and clogged hoses happen when the house of the coolant is neglected.
The hose gets degraded over time and thins out. If the fan blade gets damaged, the flow of the air to the engine could be compromised thus overheating can happen.
If the water pump breaks, the route will slow down or stop, lessening the meeting between the coolant and the hotter area within the engine.
7. Wrong coolant used
Nothing that can happen can be worse than putting the wrong coolant or coolant mix in your car. If you put the wrong kind in, it can cause your car to overheat. If you happen to accidentally do so, bring your car to a trusted mechanic so that they can do a complete cooling system clean-up.
8. Defective Radiator
A defective radiator with broken fans can increase the heat from the engine by increasing the temperature in the coolant.
A broken fan can make the radiator not function properly to control the heat in the car engine, thus the cause for overheating.
Ask your mechanic for a specific radiator overheating repair to remedy the problem.
9. Coolant reservoir tank leak
If you are a new car owner and do not know what coolant looks like, they come in various colors like blue, green, or orange, depending on the brand of coolant bought.
If your car engine overheats, one of the things to check is if your coolant reservoir tank is empty.
An empty can be caused by a leak. Check for an opening in the tank or coolant tracks underneath your car.
10. Loose hose clamps
The clamps on the hose can loosen or snap over a period of time, sometimes the hose gets tighter which can cause the clamps’ grip to get loose. A loose hose is one of the warning signs that your car engine can overheat.
How Do I Stop My Car from Overheating?
Take care of your car. That’s just about it.
If you want to use and drive your car for a long, long time, you have to regularly take care of it and have routine checks to make sure all the bells and whistles, gears, and buttons are all in working order.
To prevent overheating, have regular checkups for coolant flushes and exchanges in your engine.
Make sure your radiator is working well and there are no cracks, breaks, or leaks anywhere.
Visit your local auto shop for regular maintenance of your car. Prevention is better than the cure and at times can save you money by avoiding a higher car bill to have a problem fixed that should have been attended to before.
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