High temperatures can cause lots of problems. As the summer approaches, we can all look forward to that overwhelming sensation of getting into a car that’s been sitting in the hot sun all day and you can’t even breath until you get the windows down. High temperatures are uncomfortable for us, but they can be even worse for our cars. With high ambient temperatures, your coolant temperature can rise quickly to dangerous levels causing engine damage.
The cooling system in your car is designed to keep things cool under even the most extreme conditions. Vehicle manufacturers know how dangerous it can be to allow your coolant temperature to rise so they do all they can to make sure engine temperatures stay where they need to be.
The water pump in your engine is designed to move water around the engine anytime the engine is running. When your engine is cold, the water just circulates around your engine and heater core to keep temperatures even and allow the engine to warm up quickly. Once the temperature hits a certain point, the thermostat will open allowing coolant to flow through the vehicle’s radiator maintaining a constant coolant temperature. Your radiator cap keeps the cooling system at a constant pressure so that even at high temperatures the coolant will not boil and lose its cooling ability.
All these components are designed together to keep a consistent temperature across your engine so that everything can function properly. If temperatures get too high it can cause a lot of problems.
One of the biggest problems with having a high coolant temperature while you’re driving is that your engine oil will not lubricate properly. The oil your car uses is designed to work in a specific environment. As it’s temperature rises its viscosity goes down, meaning it gets thinner. If your engine oil gets too thin, it will not be able to properly lubricate your engine bearings leading to accelerated wear. Even if your car doesn’t have an oil cooler, high coolant temperatures can quickly increase your engine oil temperatures and lead to poor lubrication.
The other dangers of having high coolant temperatures in your car have to do with the materials used in the construction of your engine. Engines today utilize a significant amount of electronics from sensors to small servo motors to control things and most of these components also do not respond well to high temperatures. Even if these components are mounted in your engine bay, a high coolant temperature can quickly lead to high engine bay temperatures which can cause erroneous readings and damage to these electrical components. Lastly, high temperatures can lead to damage of others components when they reach their thresholds. Plastic intake manifolds to high performance metals can all start to melt or deform at high temperatures causing cracks, leaks and failed seals and gaskets.
Even though your vehicle’s manufacturer designed the cooling system in your car to adequately remove waste heat, many factors can lower your vehicle’s cooling systems capacity or increase the amount of waste heat produced. Things like cooling system scale and radiator damage can lower your cooling systems ability to keep your engine cool and everything from extreme weather or driving conditions to performance modifications can increase the amount of waste heat produced by your vehicle’s engine.
There are drastic measures you can take to lower your coolant temperature like replacing your thermostat your radiator. Thermostats are designed to open at different temperatures so a thermostat that allows coolant to flow to the radiator at a lower temperature can help keep your engine running cooler. Also, adding a larger radiator can increase your cooling system’s capacity by allowing the engine coolant to remain in the radiator longer further cooling it before it returns to the engine. Both of these upgrades can provide lower coolant temperatures however they can be time consuming or expensive installation processes.
The quickest and easiest way to lower your coolant temperature is to simply add BlueDevil Engine Cool to your vehicle’s coolant. BlueDevil Engine Cool is compatible with all types of engine coolant and can reduce your coolant temperature by 25oF!!
You can find BlueDevil Engine Cool at any of our partnering local auto parts retailers 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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coolant_temperature.jpg – By JoeBelanger – Licensed by Getty Images – Original Link
BlueDevil Products can be found on Amazon.com or at AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA, and other major auto parts retailers.
11 responses to "Lower Your Coolant Temperature"
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My car is always hot in the engine. In the morning it can’t start but in the afternoon it runs smoothly. On the left tire there is this grŕrrrrŕ noise when I’m speeding Or trying to slow down, they check the battery and they said it’s ok and the machenic said there is nothing wrong with the car
Mrs. Jambabya-
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 350 High Performance Engine that has four thousand miles on it built by precision Auto. Change the thermostat 4 core radiator still overheats when I drive it over 3,000 RPMs I have Auto fans that are on constantly still does not lower the temperature what would you suggest
Don,
Thanks for your question about your Chevy 350 motor that is overheating. Sometimes motors will run hot during the break-in period due to the extra friction but if you’ve been running it for 4000 miles you should be past that point. One thing to check would be that your water pump is flowing properly by draining your radiator a little and watching for coolant flow under the radiator cap. The other 2 big contributors to performance motors running hot is retarded ignition timing or running lean. Both of these conditions will add extra heat and could cause overheating. Your spark plugs can tell you both if your motor is running lean and if your timing is right so you might consider pulling a spark plug and reading up on how to use the patterns on it to determine your combustion conditions.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I have 454 Similiar problem
Bought edelbrock high volume pump at summit
Went back to 160 degree temp.
Put 16 lb radiator cap with temp gage on cap to verify.
Hot weather and car in traffic holding below 195
At 195 temp I got on freeway
By time I was on freeway and tom went up to the speed of 60 mph high volume brought temp done 30 degrees in less than quarter of mile
Will the Blue Devil engine cool adversely affect your cars ability to supply heat to the car interior in the colder winter months ??
Will the Blue Devil engine cool have to be drained from the radiator before the colder winter months arrive , so you can generate heat to the car interior ?
John-
BlueDevil Engine Cool would adversely affect the vehicles ability to supply heat in any way. It is specifically formulated to reduce engine operating temperatures, and would not interfere with the heater core what so ever. It does not need to be drained from the radiator during the winter months, as it can safely be added to antifreeze.
Thank you!
-BDP
question I Have :- What will happen if Radiator over performed & provide cooled coolant to Engine
Honda CAR Owner-
If the coolant temperature falls below the preset temperature regulated by the thermostat, the thermostat blocks the coolant flow to the radiator, forcing the fluid instead through a bypass directly back to the engine. The coolant will continue to circulate like this until it reaches the design temperature, at which point, the thermostat will open a valve and allow the coolant back through the radiator.
Thank you!
-BDP
will “Blue Devil Cool” work with Engine Ice coolant?
Russ-
Yes, the BlueDevil Engine Cool is safe and compatible to use with Engine Ice Coolant.
Thank you!
-BDP