Why Is My Car Overheating?

#driveyourlife

Why is My Car OverheatingHow long has your car been overheating for?  Does it do it every day or only in traffic?  Has your car ever stopped running because it got so hot?  All of these questions can help you find the answer to your original question, “why is my car overheating”.

When passenger cars were first being developed, keeping them cool wasn’t an easy task.  Antifreeze, like we use today, didn’t become standard operating equipment in cars until the late 1930s.  Until then either water, or ethylene oxide was the only coolant available which required constant attention.  The invention and widespread use of ethylene glycol antifreeze solved a few cooling problems automobiles had, but still required regular filling and attention.

The cooling systems in today’s cars have gotten so advanced, they require very little attention.  Car manufacturers are so confident in these advanced cooling systems and their ability to consistently and reliably keep your engine within its operating temperature range, many are starting to do away with temperature gauges all together!  The gauges so many of us are used to have been replaced by a simple blue light indicating your car is cold and a red warning light should things get too hot.

Some of these advances have come in the antifreeze that is used.  Today’s antifreezes can withstand very cold temperatures and can remove heat for your engine even more efficiently than pure water!  Another improvement in cooling systems has come in the form of hoses and connections.  Leaks in your cooling system can quickly empty it of the vital antifreeze leaving your cooling system inefficient and your engine hot.  Cooling system leaks can often come from the hoses connecting the engine to the radiator and heater core.  Improvements in rubbers that can withstand the chemicals present in antifreeze as well as the extreme temperature swings and harsh operating environments of your engine help prevent leaks and keep your system working properly.

why is my car overheating?One of the biggest improvements made in cooling systems recently has been the use of aluminum for the construction of the radiator.  Brass or copper has been used for many years for its great ability to transfer heat.  Even though aluminum doesn’t transfer heat quite as well as brass or copper, it is not as soft so these radiators tend to last longer with fewer leaks.  Aluminum radiators are also less expensive to produce so oversized radiators are cheaper to make which will ensure the proper cooling capacity for your engine.
One of the main reasons the cooling system in your car isn’t working as it should be is because your radiator is effectively removing the heat from the coolant before it sends it back into your engine.  This can happen for a variety of reasons.  First, your radiator may not be getting proper air flow.  This could be caused by an obstruction in your grille like leaves or road debris, or it could be that your cooling fans are failing to turn on.  Second, it could be that your radiator is damaged.  There are many small fins on your radiator to aid cooling by increasing surface area.  These fins can be easily damaged by rocks or debris so check the front of your radiator for bent fins.  Lastly, your radiator may not be providing the proper cooling because of internal clogging.

Wear products, sediment or corrosion are constantly building up in your radiator.  This gunk often tends to settle in your radiator due to the low flow rates and small passages.  As this gunk builds up, it can block both coolant flow and heat transfer.  Both of these will result in reduced cooling capacity and your car overheating.

Luckily, removing the gunk from your radiator is a simple and easy process.  BlueDevil Radiator Flush is a concentrated formula that uses advanced cleaners to remove the gunk from your radiator and restore the efficiency to your cooling system.  BlueDevil Radiator flush is powerful and easy to use!

00204_radiatorflush

To see how simple it can be, check out our product information page and instructions here: BlueDevil Radiator Flush

When you’re ready to get your cooling system back to its full potential, stop by your local auto parts store to pick up a bottle of BlueDevil Radiator Flush today!  BlueDevil Products are available at all 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

 

Pictures Provided By:

car_overheating.jpg – By Don Bayley – Licesned By ThinkStock Photos – Original Link
radiator.jpg – By vladru – Licsend by ThinkStock Photos – 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.

6 responses to "Why Is My Car Overheating?"

6 Comments

  1. melissa on June 16, 2017 at 6:52 pm

    i have 2001 Honda accord LX
    been running fine then out of the blue it started over heating and when i checked under hood fans werent really moving
    one was very slowly moving other one not all i turned on AC which should have brought me the fans but nothing
    i took it on test run after 2 days and got 10 minutes up the road and red lined
    when i saw smoke i looked and noticed water splashes very very small confined space and smoke coming from a hair line crack maybe from tip of radiator under neath cap
    so it could be three or four things
    we got a thermostat maybe clogged
    fan
    fan motor
    or maybe radiator
    this is something random its been an awesome car but this is out of the blue

    • BlueDevil Pro on June 19, 2017 at 10:59 am

      Melissa-

      Thank you for asking about your Honda Accord LX. Based on your description, it could be a few different issues causing the vehicle to overheat. It does sound like you have a defective fan switch and/or defective fan clutch. It also sounds like you may have pressure building up underneath the cap, maybe from a clogged thermostat and perhaps the cause of your hair line crack. We recommend bringing the vehicle to a certified ASE mechanic for a proper diagnosis, as this could be a number of different issues.

      Thank you!

      -BDP

  2. melissa on June 16, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    i would appreciate any suggestions as to what is the culprit causing this
    and im very mechanically inclined so plz b nice

    • BlueDevil Pro on June 19, 2017 at 9:37 am

      Melissa-

      What kind of vehicle do you have? 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

  3. sabik on August 22, 2017 at 5:18 am

    Hi
    I have a ford fiesta 2011
    My vehicle is having an issue , the ac compressor stops working while driving and the radiator fans keeps on running when i stop the vehicle ,and when i checked with mechanic he says that it might be an issue with thermostat he is not sure about it , the fan was recently changed .
    could you please tell me what might be the issue with it.

    • BlueDevil Pro on August 22, 2017 at 10:44 am

      Sabik-

      Thank you for asking about your Ford Fiesta. There are a number of different reasons as to why a vehicle would overheat. If you are not noticing a loss of water/coolant, and hear the fans coming on, checking that the thermostat is functioning properly would be a good place to start. Also, depending on the age/mileage of the vehicle, a faulty water pump could also cause overheating. It is typically recommended to replace the water pump at around 90,000 miles. Hope this helps!

      Thank you!

      -BDP

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