When the heat generated by the engine’s typical operation exceeds its normal operating temperature, and engine overheats. Usually, some failure in the vehicle’s cooling system causes the excessive heat. Today, we at Speedway Towing & Roadside Assistance would like to discuss the reasons your engine may overheat and what to do if happens.

What are the Major Causes of Engine Overheating?

1) Water Pump Broke. To help move the coolant throughout the system, the cooling system relies on the water pump. The vehicle will overheat when the coolant ceases to move through the system and complete its cooling cycle if the water pump breaks.
2) Cooling System is Leaking. You will eventually end up with not enough coolant to maintain the vehicle’s appropriate operating temperature if your cooling system is leaking coolant. The radiator, water pump, hoses, head gasket, or elsewhere can be the source of the leak.
3) Radiator Fails. It impossible to fully re-cool the coolant before sending it back through the engine when there is damage to the radiator or radiator cooling fans. The engine eventually overheats due to higher-than-normal operating temperatures.
4) Engine Oil Levels are Low. The many moving parts in your engine is lubricated with engine oil, in addition to drawing heat from the engine and helping maintain the engine’s temperature. You’ll experience higher temperatures and possibly an overheating event if the engine is operating on low oil.
5) Malfunctioning Thermostat. Your engine uses a thermostat to regulate its temperature, just like in your house. It will prevent the system from properly regulating the temperature of the vehicle if this thermostat fails. It might be causing your engine to overheat, it can be difficult to determine which of these factors, or another one entirely. To help you narrow down the issues and identify how to fix them, you need to work with a skilled automotive professional.

How Do You Tell if an Engine has Overheated?

It is imperative that you take the necessary steps to ensure your safety and prevent expensive or irreparable damage to the engine if your engine overheats. Recognizing that it’s happening before it’s too late is the first step in dealing with an overheating engine. Below are the common signs of overheating.
– From underneath your hood, you see steam escaping. (It resembles smoke)
– The temperature gauge is all the way up on your dashboard.
– Burning smells, like burning engine oil, or sweet odors from burning antifreeze.

How Do You Fix an Overheated Engine?

Pull Over – Pull over and stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so, and you identified the overheating engine. The temperature will continue to rise and cause significant damage if you continue to operate the vehicle while the engine is overheating. Roll down the windows, drive at low RPM, and turn on the heat if it is not safe to stop. Running the heater will actually pull heat away from the vehicle’s engine.
Turn off Vehicle – Turn the vehicle off once you are at a complete stop and are in a safe spot. Wait to open the hood as it is likely holding dangerous amount of heat and pressure buildup. Remain your vehicle until help arrives.
Call for Assistance – Call for a tow truck to come and lend you a hand once you’re in a safe place. To avoid having too much time taken up by having to find a towing service to trust with your vehicle, make sure you save the contact information of a towing expert in your cellphone.

Towing & Roadside Assistance in Irving, Fort Worth, Arlington, Carrollton & Plano Texas

For towing and roadside assistance services in Irving, Texas and surrounding areas, call in the professionals of Speedway Towing and Roadside Assistance and let our professionals assist you.