Car overheating then going back to normal is a common issue now a day. If you have experienced this issue, there are possible reasons for this. Is it normal or a cause of concern? The question arises, why is my car overheating while it has coolant in it? Why is my car overheating with a new thermostat? And, Is a low-cost coolant causing overheating?
A vehicle engine can overheat due to many different reasons. In this article, I am going to explain why your car is overheating and then going back to normal.
Table of Contents
What Could Cause My Car Overheating then Going Back to Normal?
There are 7 possible reasons for car overheating.
- A Bad Thermostat
- A faulty Radiator
- Low coolant Level
- Failure of Head Gasket
- Radiator Fan Failure
- Water Pump Failure
- Bad Sensor
1. A Bad Thermostat
Mostly vehicles overheat due to a faulty thermostat. A thermostat is an electronic device in every vehicle that controls the entire vehicle’s temperature by balancing the flow of hot water from the vehicle radiator to the engine. The temperature of an engine depends on the flow of hot water. If there is more hot water near the engine means a higher overall temperature, and less hot water near the engine means the vehicle temperature is average.
If your vehicle thermostat goes faulty, it causes unbalanced water flow, and thus, the temperature rises, which causes overheating of the car. So, a faulty thermostat can cause cars to overheat.
2. A faulty Radiator
A fully functional Radiator is essential to keep your car from overheating. This is because the radiator plays a vital role in the vehicle engine, and water circulates between the radiator and the engine. A water pump is used to carry water from the water chamber below the car engine. The radiator cools hot water from the water chamber, which carries engine heat.
The radiator is made of aluminum and copper; when water comes in small radiator pipes, it absorbs water heat and cools down with air coming from a fan. So, if your car radiator is faulty engine will heat up very quickly, which causes overheating and sometimes cause engine failure.
3. Low Coolant Levels
Another reason a car is quickly overheating is the low coolant in your vehicle. Coolant is a special kind of fluid which flow through a car’s engine to keep engine temperature optimal. In addition, coolant lubricates engine parts and protects them from damage. Coolant could be low due to leakage and if not being refilled on time.
If your car engine coolant is low, it will cause overheating. So, low coolant can also cause car overheating and then going back to normal.
4. Failure of Head Gasket
Head gasket failure is the most common issue that might cause car overheating. Head Gasket is the most important part of a vehicle engine because it separates the engine from the combustion chamber by creating a seal between them. Engine oil, coolant, and combustion chamber travel via the head gasket. The Head gasket is responsible for sealing the high-pressure combustion gas in the combustion chamber, which gives power to the engine.
If the head gasket becomes faulty, it may cause several problems in the vehicle engine. For example, if your vehicle frequently overheats and you have not found any of the issues mentioned earlier, you may have a head gasket failure.
5. Radiator Fan Failure
A radiator fan is responsible for sucking cooler air into the radiator to keep it cool when your vehicle moves slowly. If your car is overheating while driving gradually and when you are stuck in traffic, look under the hood. It can be due to the fan being turned off.
When your vehicle is moving fast, air comes into the radiator from the vehicle’s front grills, which cools down your vehicle radiator, requiring less fan usage. However, while driving slowly, there is no air coming through vehicle grills and the radiator need fan to suck in cool air. Sometimes, your vehicle fan stops due to motor failure or an electrical issue which causes overheating very quickly.
6. Water pump failure
A broken water pump can cause overheating because it is responsible for the water flow in your car engine. Water flow is very important to keep the car engine cool while running; if water flow stops in a car engine, then engine temperature rises very quickly and can also cause engine failure.
A water pump can stop working when it’s stuck, the motor due not work and when it gets polluted. So always check your car water pump first if your car is overheating when the engine starts impeller work and push the coolant through a cooling system. As a result, coolant can not circulate properly if the water pump fails.
7. Bad Sensors
Sometimes, the overheating problem is not because of the engine, and it also happens when sensors record false output from the engine. When sensors go bad, they record incorrect records and make it seem like your car engine is overheating during it is working fine.
Also Read: How to remove fish smell from car
How Do I Fix A Car That’s Overheating Then Going Back to Normal?
Fix Bad Thermostat
If a bad thermostat causes a car to overheat, you should get your car to a mechanic and repair the bad thermostat or replace it. It’s a common problem, but its repair is inexpensive and fixed in no time.
Replace Radiator
If you find out that the radiator is the cause of the car overheating, change it as soon as possible because the radiator plays a significant role in keeping the engine temperature optimal. If also responsible for the circulation of coolant in the engine, if the radiator don’t repair on time, it can cause a head gasket blow or engine failure.
Check Coolant Leakage
If your car is overheating, check the coolant reservoir for any leakage as soon as possible. Coolant is expensive, so do not let it leak further if you find any leakage and cover it with something. Then go to the mechanic as soon as possible to fix the leakage. If you do not repair the coolant leakage, it can cost you between $100 to $200 for coolant change.
Check Radiator Fan
Sometimes cars overheat due to radiator fan failure. So you have to check whether the radiator fan is working under the hood. Fan failure is due to an electrical problem or fan motor failure. If your vehicle fan stop working car gets overheated quickly. If the fan fails due to some cutout or electrical wire, you can fix it yourself.
Do a Vehicle Domestic Check
If your vehicle is overheating, also find out what is causing your car to overheat. First, get the problem fixed and then do a domestic vehicle check. It is similar to a regular mechanic checkup, but it can uncover those errors which are not visible.
Turn on Heater
Turning on the heater is a temporary solution when your car is overheating. It makes your vehicle hot from the inside but decreases your engine temperature and saves your engine from major damage until you reach home or a mechanic. The heater pushes hot air from the engine inside the car, and the engine temperature gets temporarily low.
Frequently asked questions
Why is My car engine overheating, But the Coolant is Full?
Why is My car engine overheating, But the Coolant is Full?
There is my reason for car overheating, but in most cases keeps engine heat from leaving the engine compartment. An overheated engine is that you can not ignore. If you forget it, your car engine may suffer from some critical damage.
If your car coolant is full and it is still overheating. In that case, there are different possible causes like a bad radiator, a faulty thermostat, a bad head gasket, and failure of the radiator fan. If you find any of these problems when your car is overheating, don’t ignore it; try to reach a mechanic as soon as possible.
Why does a car overheat when the radiator is cool to the touch?
It causes your car to overheat due to the radiator cap, if your radiator remains loose or out of shape, it also causes car overheating because the radiator does not keep pressure in it due to the open cap. So keep in mind to always close the radiator cap tightly. It can cause problems during your journey.
Keynote:
Please do not open your car radiator cap when your car engine is hot and it has pressure in it. You can burn yourself if you try to open a hot radiator cap. Always use gloves or a cloth to open the hot radiator cap.
What if the car overheats and becomes normal?
A bad thermostat is the main cause of car overheating and returning to normal. If your vehicle thermostat goes bad, it can cause car overheating. This component plays a very important role in keeping the car engine cool. If your car thermostat has gone bad, do not ignore it and take immediate action. Ignoring it can cause major engine problems like head gasket blow or engine failure.
How far can you drive an overheating car?
Try to stop driving as soon as possible if your car is overheating. Turn off the car engine and take your vehicle away from traffic. Drive your car only a half mile if necessary; otherwise, stop driving as soon as possible. If you try to drive more than a half mile, it can cause irreversible engine damage. Some cars can make it 20 miles, but we will not recommend it.
What happens when a car overheats, and you still drive?
If you continue driving when a car overheats can cause the head cylinder ultimately to deform and the engine to seize. Your car head gasket can also be blown, which demands a time-consuming and costly repair. It also effect the combustion process due to deform cylinders which can cause reduced engine power, oil leakage, misfire and oil burning.
Why is my car overheating with the new thermostat?
A thermostat can cause car overheating, but there is also another reason for car overheating if your vehicle is overheating with a new thermostat. There must be a radiator blockage or low coolant level. If a car radiator is blocked, it decreases cooling system performance and causes overheating.
A blockage in the heater core can also cause overheating. Or a leakage in the radiator pipe can also cause overheating. But mainly cause a blocked radiator and a bad thermostat can cause overheating. So if your car overheats, first check by your side if you can find an issue. Otherwise, take your vehicle to the mechanic as soon as possible when your car is overheating.
Can Low Coolant cause overheat?
Yes, of course, low coolant can cause car overheating. Low coolant not only causes overheating but also causes damage to the engine and other vital parts. Such a thing can happen when your car’s coolant level is low.
Coolant play can play an important role in keeping vehicle engine temperature low. If the coolant level has gone low, it can cause the engine to seize. Continuing to drive an overheating car can cause irreversible damage, like a piston stuck to cylinder walls and combustion chamber blow. So always check your coolant level during the tuning of your vehicle.
What Are The Main Causes Of a Car Overheating?
There are different causes of car overheating, which include: Bad thermostat, Faulty radiator, low coolant, Bad sensors and faulty heater.
Conclusion
Car overheating is a critical problem and can cause major engine problems. So if you notice your car overheating, do not ignore it and take quick action. I hope this article will help you find out the problem if your car is overheating and then going back to normal.
