Why does cars run hot

If your passenger is cold, it may be because your heater has a clog. If you have a radiator blockage, your engine is likely to overheat. Damage Caused by the Engine Overheating. An engine overheating can cause major harm to your car.

Overheating can destroy the head gasket and even the entire engine. You will find it bolted to the top of the engine and located between the cylinder head and the engine block.

There are valves located inside the cylinder head which open and close. This allows air and fuel into the cylinders. It also expels the used exhaust gas. This gasket is essential because it seals the internal combustion activity of the engine. It prevents oil from mixing together with coolant as those fluids make their way between the engine block and the cylinder head. A head gasket can blow due to the engine overheating. A car overheats when the metal of the head and block of the engine expands.

When the metal expands, it might crush the head gasket. Head gaskets can also fail when an engine is about to explode or explodes. Replacing a head gasket is extremely difficult work that requires a highly skilled mechanic. Head gaskets tend to go when the whole engine is ready to be replaced. The gasket itself is not expensive at all, but the labor will take a long time. An overheated engine can cause major damage.

Your car will start to overheat more and more frequently and pretty soon driving anywhere will take a long time. Your engine may catch on fire and that can cause injuries and death. Your engine may also be completely destroyed by a fire. When your car overheats to the point where you cannot drive it, you will have to pay for towing. If you belong to AAA, you should be able to get it towed for free.

If you have a luxury car, you can expect to pay twice that amount. Regular maintenance is the best way to avoid having an overheated engine.

If your engine is damaged, it is important to find a trustworthy mechanic to work on your car. The best place to begin is on the AAA website. They have a list of approved mechanics that they can recommend to you. A reputable mechanic should be able to give you a written estimate on any repairs. Ask them where they will obtain the parts they will use and ask if they can get the parts through a junkyard.

You may also want to call a scrap metal dealer to see if you can find the part yourself. If you need to replace the engine or if you have to replace several of its components, it may be time to think about a new car. If you decide to replace your vehicle, you will have a few options for getting rid of the old one.

You could take the dealer trade-in. Dealerships may offer you a lot of money for your old clunker. However, they will simply add to the money they give you for your trade-in to the final price of your new car. You could try to unload the car yourself, but that may take a long time. If you have concerns about any of the things considered in the article,. If you want to learn more about our testing and diagnostic ability feel free to check out our Car Diagnostics page.

Elite Auto Repair is always ready to help. You can also use the Book an Appointment button to schedule with us. I have been using this shop for about 2 years now.

It is clean and they have accommodations for the customers, like water, coffee , pastry, and soda. They even have multiple phone chargers for your use. The guys are always friendly and attenative. They always get me right in. The prices are fair and reasonable. They stand behind their work. No extra or unexpected charges. Great place to have your vehicle serviced or repaired.

My experience at Elite was incredible. The staff was friendly and accommodating. One person in particular, Brett. I have worked with Brett in the past at another facility. Brett, has always been trustworthy and honest. Skip to main content. Services Tires Offers Learn [personalized-data].

Current Offers. See Details. Schedule a Free Battery Check today. Save on 3-Year Alignment and Road Hazard programs when you buy 4 tires. Find Tires. Includes tires, alignment, brake, battery, and select fluid checks. The Bottom Line. If you are in a vehicle that is overheating, do not try to drive farther. Pull over, stop driving and turn the vehicle off. Actions can be taken to assess any issues, though the best course of action is to have the vehicle towed to your nearest Goodyear Auto Service.

What does a cooling system do? The overall cooling system keeps a standard operating temperature for the engine by circulating coolant, or antifreeze, through the engine to the radiator, thus pulling heat away from the engine. What happens when an engine overheats? Select Services. What to do if your vehicle begins overheating. Pull over and assess the situation.

As soon as you notice an issue with your vehicle, the next course of action is to pull off the road to a safe and clear area and turn off the vehicle. If the vehicle is overheating, continuing to drive with a potentially damaged engine may cause permanent damage. Keep moving only if necessary. If there is a situation where you are not able to come to a complete stop in a safe and clear area, keeping the vehicle slowly moving may still allow a constant airflow around the motor to help aid in natural cooling.

Leaving your car at rest with the engine running may worsen the problem, which can quickly produce additional and unwanted heat. When the vehicle is still in motion, turning off the air conditioning and increasing the heat to high may help to pull additional heat away from the engine. Open all the windows The goal is to release as much heat as possible. Rolling down and opening as many windows as possible is another way to allow heat to flow out of the vehicle.

Call for assistance The number-one option at this point is to call for service or roadside assistance. Do not try to open the hood of your car until the vehicle has cooled down Once the vehicle is at a complete stop and turned off, do not lift the hood.

Common reasons for overheating engines. Below are common factors that can cause a car to overheat:. Cooling system leaks An empty coolant reservoir tank could be caused by a potential leak. If the coolant is dirty or has too much buildup, it can stop the coolant from moving through the pump, which can lead to an overheating situation. Radiator issues Radiators and their fans help to reduce heat from the engine by decreasing coolant temperatures.

Issues with the fans may reduce the capability of the radiator to remove heat, which will cause unnatural temperature increases. Low oil levels may increase engine temperatures.