Overheating of an Automobile Engine

The engine is the most crucial part of an automobile; it is the engine that determines the efficiency of any vehicle. The engine in any vehicle will be able to perform more efficiently and last longer if it does not overheat. It is very essential to have constant operating temperature for good fuel economy, proper emissions control, and performance of the vehicle. It is a very difficult thing to manage the overheating of especially when the weather is hot. However an engine can get overheated anytime round the year due to different reasons.

Overheating of the engine can be caused by just about anything that decreases the ability of the cooling system to absorb, transport and dissipate the heat in the engine. Problems in the transfer of heat are caused by the insufficient flow of air to the radiator. Clogged radiators, non-functioning thermostats and bad water pumps are causes of the circulation problem in the engine. It can also be caused by the deposits of oxidation inside the engine and this is the cause of hot spots in the engine which are hard to detect. If the engine is overheated and exceeds its normal operating range, the high temperatures cause extreme stress on the cylinder head and that may result in a failure of the head gasket. This failure can lead to a loss of the clamping force in the critical areas and result in the leakage of the head gasket. Overheating of the engine can result in the coolant to boil out of the radiator and be lost.

When the engine is overheated the fist and foremost thing to do is to put on the turn signals and/or flashers and pull off the road and park your car in a safe place. Turn the heater blower and heater setting and to high in order to divert the heat from the engine. Turn off the engine and check the coolant level of the vehicle by looking at the coolant reservoir which is a plastic tank. Don't ever open the coolant reservoir immediately after you switch off the engine. Give it some time to cool down and then open it. Once the coolant reservoir is cool, use a funnel and add coolant in the reservoir if the coolant in the reservoir is below the low line. Another possibility that a engine could get overheated is due to leakages or drips of fuel from the vehicle. Look below your vehicle to check for any signs of leakage or spillage. Check the antifreeze element of the vehicle as if the antifreeze fails the circulation in the engine is hampered and the engine gets overheated. It is therefore very important to replace the antifreeze regularly to maintain the engine.

If your engine does not cool down in spite of adding the coolant and if the antifreeze is alright, it is advisable to call a mechanic and have your vehicle towed to the nearby service station. It is very important to give your car its due maintenance checks in order to have a good and clean engine.