This time of year, it’s important to think about how to keep things cool. Checking things like your home air conditioning system and making sure you’ve got a pass to the local pool can be part of keeping your family cool, but what about keeping your car cool? Overheating is one of the biggest causes of engine damage in cars today and the truth is, it’s an easily preventable problem. Your vehicle is designed to keep itself cool and in many new cars, there are alerts and alarms to let you know there is a problem if your cooling system. If your car already has trouble keeping cool, there are some tricks to stopping overheating even in the summer months.
If your car is overheating, obviously it’s important to check the cooling system, but there are some other instances that will cause your engine to run hotter than normal. Unless you’re driving a classic, your vehicle uses a computer to decide how much fuel to add to each cylinder and when to fire the spark plug to get maximum power and efficiency from the engine. The computer makes those decisions based on inputs from sensors in your engine. For example, the oxygen sensor tells your car’s computer if the engine is running rich or lean. If that sensor is bad, your engine could be running extremely lean which causes excess heat and could cause overheating. Besides fuel, ignition timing can cause overheating as well if it is unnecessarily retarded. Usually, your car can tell if you sensors are bad through the engine codes so reading these codes with a scanner can usually point you in the right direction. If you can’t find any engine codes, you can check things like fuel pressure regulators or cam and crank position sensors if you suspect a problem with your engine’s computer.
In the case of an overheating engine, of course, you also need to check your cooling system. Start by visually inspecting your radiator for damage. Make sure you’re checking your radiator, not the AC condenser and look for bent fins, debris and even places for air to escape in between your condenser and radiator. If lots of the fins are bent and blocking air flow, that could be what is causing a lack of heat transfer and overheating.
Next, think about the inside of your cooling system. Unusual amounts of fouling can reduce heat transfer and cause overheating so try reading our article about How to Flush a Radiator to make sure that isn’t your problem. Lastly, it’s worth thinking about the components like your water pump and thermostat. If your car has overheated before it’s possible that your thermostat is damage so you may consider replacing it.
One of the quickest ways to cool things down in your engine no matter what the circumstances are is to increase your coolant’s ability to transfer heat. That can be done quickly and easily by adding BlueDevil Engine Cool. BlueDevil Engine Cool reduces the surface tension of your coolant allowing it to more efficiently transfer heat away from your engine and into the radiator.
For more information about BlueDevil Engine Cool, visit our product information page!
You can also find BlueDevil Engine Cool at any of our partnering local auto parts stores like:
- AutoZone
- Advance Auto Parts
- Bennett Auto Supply
- CarQuest Auto parts
- NAPA Auto Parts
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Pep Boys
- Fast Track
- Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Specialists
- S&E Quick Lube Distributer
- DYK Automotive
- Fisher Auto Parts stores
- Auto Plus Auto Parts stores
- Hovis Auto & Truck Supply stores
- Salvo Auto Parts
- Advantage Auto Stores
- Genuine Auto Parts stores
- Bond Auto Parts stores
- Tidewater Fleet Supply
- Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts
- Any Part Auto Parts
- Consumer Auto Parts
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16 responses to "How Do I Stop Overheating?"
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i have honda accord 2001 car. we changed the head gaskit after heated up. We had changed temperature sensor and radiator cap. Also checked radiator and thermostat everything is good. no leaks anywhere near head gasket.
Problem is: It eats lot of coolant and sometimes misfire and there is solid check engine light “ON” when it misfire. We take out bubbles from cooling system but it still eat a lot of coolant. Help!!!!!!
Devinder-
Thank you for asking about your Honda Accord. It is possible that you are getting combustion/exhaust gases pumping back into the cooling system. You can use a “Block Dye Tester” to confirm whether or not that is the case. If that is the case, we do recommend using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/).
BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer will still work if your vehicle is getting combustion/exhaust gases blowing into the cooling system and creating pressure. To give yourself the best overall chance of BlueDevil working successfully, in addition to the directions, you should remove the spark plug from the cylinder with the leak; this will be the spark plug from the cylinder with the low compression reading. If you are not sure which one that is, you may pull all of the spark plugs and will notice one will have a white-crystal-like substance on it and/or may look dirty; this is the plug you should pull. Leave that plug out for the 50 minute idle in order to relieve the pressure from building up and thus allowing the product to seal properly. Be sure to follow the guidelines for the proper amount to use based on the size of your cooling system.
Thank you!
-BDP
Puedo agregar blue devil al sistema de enfriamiento a un mazda rx8 motor rotativo
Javier-
Yes, BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer can be used in rotary engines. Be sure to follow the guidelines for the proper amount to use.
Thank you!
-BDP
Cadillac Deville 2000
Constant fluctuation of the temp gauge
Red zones in idle after 35+ mins
Slight drip under middle of car
Check Coolant indicator remains on even when topped off
Blue devil 16 oz bottle added and car still red zones after 35+ mins in idle
Reservoir seemed to have plenty of fluid even when some was removed for blue devil …
Car was smoking from tail pipes but has not done so since application
Car still is over heating
Kenneth-
Thank you for asking about your Cadillac Deville. The BlueDevil Pour-N-Go Head Gasket Sealer (http://store.gobdp.com/pour-n-go-head-gasket-sealer-00209/) is intended for use in 4 or 6 cylinder engines. To properly treat your Northstar V-8 engine, you would need 32 ounces of the product at one time. Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2004 Chevy trailblazer 5.3 liter. Had a lot of problems out of old motor with over heating and eventually blew the motor. I recently put a motor , thermostat,waterpump,new radiator cap and flushed radiator with flush kit. After spending a lot more than I attended and the day I left the shop I was immediately let down as I way watched the temp gauge go to 260. It blew some smoke and i burped air out of lines. Went purchased bluedevil pour n go head gasket sealer . Flushed radiator,changed oil, took thermostat out put in new antifreeze and bluedevil head gasket sealer. The next day it got hot immediately . Checked hoses after Truck cooled and top and bottom hoses were sucked in and closed off. I really am at a point of becoming a not so nice guy with the guy that did work on my truck. I do this k ow what else to do. Please help
Justin-
Thank you for asking about your Chevy Trailblazer. First off, the BlueDevil Pour-N-Go Head Gasket Sealer is intended for use in 4 or 6 cylinder engines. It would not have been enough product to properly treat your V-8. Based on your description, it is possible that you are getting combustion/exhaust gases pumping back into the cooling system. You can use a “Block Dye Tester” to confirm whether or not that is the case.
BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/) will still work if your vehicle is getting combustion/exhaust gases blowing into the cooling system and creating pressure. To give yourself the best overall chance of BlueDevil working successfully, in addition to the directions, you should remove the spark plug from the cylinder with the leak; this will be the spark plug from the cylinder with the low compression reading. If you are not sure which one that is, you may pull all of the spark plugs and will notice one will have a white-crystal-like substance on it and/or may look dirty; this is the plug you should pull. Leave that plug out for the 50 minute idle in order to relieve the pressure from building up and thus allowing the product to seal properly. Be sure to follow the guidelines for the proper amount to use based on the size of your cooling system.
Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
Hi I have a over heating issue after using your Radiator and Block Sealer. I have a 2008 Chevy Malibu Ls 2.4. I did not have the over heating issue before just a coolant leak and someone at Advance Auto Parts told me to get this. Now my question is why is it over heating?
Daniel-
Thank you for asking about your Chevy Malibu. Where was the coolant leak coming from? Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a SAAB 1999 9-3 Convertible that’s overheating. I got a diagnostic and was told Blown Head Gasket or Cracked Head. I don’t see any smoke and can drive a few miles before it overheats. I can’t afford any repairs now and wanted to find out if Blue Devil Head Gasket Sealer would allow for a temporary fix for 60-90 days. Please advise.
Thank you.
Alvin-
Thank you for asking about your Saab 9-3. Other than overheating, what are the symptoms the vehicle is having? Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a little better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2007 Chrysler Aspen, 4.7L V-8 Flex Fuel Engine. It’s two wheel drive and has a bit over 208,000 miles. Although it runs fantastic, I can feel a very small low idle “miss”, but nothing drastic. But the big issue is that suddenly last week it began overheating. We were coming back home from a trip several weeks ago, which is about four hours from home, and I noticed the temperature starting to creep up to over halfway on the gauge. It was a slow creeping up of the heat and not a sudden overheating episode and since it didn’t get too much further than that, I continued on home. It went back down to below halfway on the gauge and it didn’t do it again until last week.
We’ve had the car for over a year now with zero cooling issues. So, I checked all of the simple things first. The water temperature sensor, it read good. I checked the fan relays. The low relay was good, but the high relay wasn’t working at higher temps. I removed it and cleaned up the pins and it started working again. That didn’t stop the overheating.
I changed the radiator cap, which was bad and the thermostat, still overheating. So I put in a new water pump, still overheating. While I had the water pump off, I checked the engine coolant passages and they were unbelievably clean. I took the fan clutch off and had it tested, it’s good. I went full circle back to the Temperature Sensor and changed it. That slowed the me to become overheated down but it is still getting hot.
I’m not sure what else to do now. I saw in an earlier article you stated that an O2 Sensor could cause it to run hot. Would that be the next logical direction to go? Or is it possible the Blue Devil product might finally put a stop to the overheating?
I appreciate the help.
Steve D.
Texas
Stephan-
Thank you for asking about your Chrysler Aspen. Unless you are noticing a loss of water/coolant, it would not be appropriate to use the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer in this case. Based on your description, and all of the parts that have already been replaced, a faulty O2 sensor could be the culprit. Other than the O2 sensor, an air pocket or combustion/exhaust gases pumping into the cooling system could also be causing the vehicle to run hot. You can use a block-dye test to see if that is the case, however, other than the rise in temperature, it doesn’t sound like you have any of the symptoms associated.
Hope this helps!
-BDP
I Have A 1998 Subaru Froster… Put A New Thermostat In It And Still Over Heating… And Don’t Know Why ???
Tenisha-
Thank you for asking about your Subaru Forester. How many miles are on the vehicle? Typically, most vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing the water pump every 90,000 miles or so. If this has not been done, the water pump could be the cause for the overheating issue you are experiencing. If the water pump has already been replaced, try flushing the cooling system to get rid of any debris/jellied antifreeze that may be restricting circulation and could also be the cause of overheating.
Thank you!
-BDP