Car came in overheating. When the guy pulled one of the tanks off, this is what he found. Only 4 tubes flowing in the entire radiator. No wonder it was overheating. A good clean out and it was good to go again. Another happy customer.
Summer is here, and that means the temperatures are on the rise, but hopefully the same isn’t said for your vehicle. An overheating car is a sign that something is wrong, and you can be in line for major repairs if you ignore the issue. Today, we look at some common reasons why your car overheats, and how you can fix the problem before it turns into a major bill.
There are a number of different reasons your car might be overheating, and certain weather conditions can exacerbate the problem, such as a hot summer’s day where the temperature tops 30C.
The most common causes of overheating are problems with a vehicle’s cooling system, like low coolant levels or an issue with circulation.
But it could also be a sign of a much more serious issue with your engine you’ll need to get looked at.
If your temperature warning light has come on or there’s steam coming from your bonnet, pull over in a safe place as soon as possible, turn off your engine, and get all passengers away from the car and road.
Open the bonnet from inside the cabin if possible, being aware that the steam may have made your bonnet incredibly hot and you may need to protect your hands. Leave the engine to sit for at least 30 minutes in order to cool down.
Never remove the radiator cap or expansion tank cap of an overheated engine as it is pressurised and could lead to severe steam burns. If you do open the cap once the engine has cooled, open it slowly and cover your hand for protection.
Classic Cars
Your classic car is likely to have been built before electric fans, extreme weather testing and maybe even traffic jams. This makes older models more susceptible to overheating. Regular checkups are vital. This means regular checks of belts, hoses, radiators, fans among others. They could save you hundreds of pounds before the first leaves start falling off the trees.
Your vehicle’s temperature gauge can be your best ally and early-warning system. This will tell you if your old engine is operating a tad hotter than normal.
The trick is not to ignore your gauge’s tell-tale clues. Engines are built to operate hot for the best efficiency. But this isn’t to the degree that they become overheated and harm components through overpressure or coolant loss.