Vehicle Engine Overheating – Reasons

When a vehicle is in operation, the engine has to work continuously in order to generate the power. The piston has to provide continuous strokes by rubbing itself against the cylinder walls. This resultant friction leads to generation of heat. Excessive heat can reduce the life of engine and damage it eventually. Hence means for reducing or dissipating heat are employed in a vehicle.

At the base level, lubricating oil is used to reduce the friction between the piston and the cylinder walls. But this does not eliminate the heat completely. It only lessens it. The remaining heat has to be dissipated from the engine. Cooling systems are used for cooling engines effectively. But sometimes due to some faults, these systems fail to operate effectively which leads to engine heating. Here, we will discuss the probable reasons for the failure of cooling systems.

Low coolant level
A coolant is used as a heat exchanging medium between the engine and the atmosphere. Enough quantities of coolant assures that the generated heat is absorbed by it and is dissipated into the surroundings. If the coolant level is less, the heat cannot be removed from the engine effectively. Main reason can be leakage of the coolant. Hence, checks should be conducted to ensure that adequate amount of coolant is there and leakage is not happening.

Faulty thermostat
A thermostat senses the heat generated by the engine in real time and operates the valves if the generated heat exceeds the rated levels. The valve opens pathway for the coolant to reach the radiator where it dispels the heat absorbed from the engine. The thermostat sometimes fails to operate because of the dirt and dust accumulated. It must be cleaned from time to time and to ensure it is working properly.

Dysfunctional water pump
A water pump is responsible for pushing the coolant through the cooling system. This ensures that the coolant flows through the engine and extracts heat effectively from the engine. If the water pump fails, the rate of heat extraction may slow down or it may completely stop; this may lead to engine overheating.

Faulty radiator fan
Radiators have fins that increase the area so that heat dissipation can be done effectively. To further improve the cooling process, radiator fans are arranged. These fans blow air through the fins which help in speedy removal of heat from the fins of the radiator. In case of fan failures, the heat is not removed effectively. This can lead to overheating of engine. The power source of the fan should be checked and maintained properly.