Reasons Your Vehicle May Be Overheating

In the summer months, you’ll want to be extra careful that you don’t find yourself with an overheating car. Too much heat can cause irreparable damage to your automobile, and can also make driving on the roadways unsafe for you and others. Peak Euro has listed a variety of reasons why your European car might find itself too hot to handle.

Thermostat Issues

Your thermostat allows coolant into the engine once a threshold temperature has been reached. If there is any problem with this part of the system, your coolant will not reach your engine, thereby leading to overheating. You’ll need to replace your thermostat about every 100,000 miles. We can help with that!

Problems With The Water Pump

Water Pumps also last about 100,000 miles. After that, they will fail. The water pump works in tandem with the thermostat to deliver coolant throughout the engine. After a while they can start to leak, however. At that point, it’s time to get it replaced.

Radiator Problems

The third piece of the puzzle is the radiator. It is where the coolant travels after cooling the engine. Sometimes the fan on the radiator can malfunction, or the inlets are blocked. This can cause your coolant not to fully cool down after it has travelled through the engine. This is bad news, and can damage your engine through overheating. Your radiator can also rust over time, causing leaks that can further damage your engine.

Coolant Problems

To function properly, your engine needs proper coolant. If you have the wrong coolant or improperly diluted coolant in your European auto, things can get bad. Both problems will inevitably lead to overheating.

Clogged Cooling System

It may have been a while since you had your radiator flushed out and refilled. If so, you might have a clog, which can prevent coolant from reaching all parts of the engine. We recommend having it flushed and refilled every 30,000 miles, or when you start to notice overheating.

Leaks

Leaks in the cooling system can come from the radiator itself or its hoses, the water pump, gaskets, or the seals in your engine. Leaks will reduce the amount of coolant present in the reservoir, and will eventually (often sooner rather than later) overheat your engine.

Peak Euro in Bend, OR is standing by to handle any overheating problems your car might be experiencing. Give us a call to schedule an appointment!