Potential Causes Of An Overheating Engine
The process your engine goes through to produce the necessary force to move your vehicle generates an enormous amount of heat
. As the air-fuel mixture within each of the cylinders is compressed and ignited, the temperature surrounding the assembly rises to approximately 210 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as the temperature stays under 220 degrees F, and within a narrow band (i.e. between 190 and 220 degrees F), the assembly can perform efficiently. If the temperature climbs above this mark, however, your engine will be at risk of overheating.
Normally, coolant circulates through the engine block and cylinder heads during operation. It absorbs heat as it flows. It carries that heat to the radiator, where it gets rid of it before circulating back to the engine to absorb more. Then, it heads back to the radiator. The continuous circulation of coolant is imperative for keeping the operating temperature of your engine under 220 degrees F.
With the above in mind, we'll take a brief look at reasons your engine can overheat. Each of the following circumstances can potentially damage the assembly, and require an expensive overhaul or replacement.
Coolant Leaks
Coolant can leak from several places. For example, the hoses that carry the fluid back and forth between the radiator, engine, and heater core, can deteriorate and crack. A broken or worn seal in the water pump, corroded freeze plug, and failing head gasket might also allow leaks.
The best way to find points of leakage is to pressure test the entire system. Keep in mind, leaks almost always worsen, so fix those you find to avoid costly damage.
Clogged Radiator
We mentioned earlier that coolant travels to your radiator to get rid of heat it has absorbed from your engine. Over time, your radiator can accumulate debris, rust, and dirt that clog the passages through which heat escapes. When this happens, coolant becomes less capable of releasing the heat it has absorbed. This means it cannot soak up a sufficient amount when it returns to the engine. The assembly thus becomes exposed to overheating.
A clogged radiator should be removed from your vehicle, inspected, and thoroughly cleaned. After reinstalling it, be sure to replenish the coolant level.
Failing Thermostat
A thermostat opens and closes to regulate the flow of coolant to your engine. When you start your car, it remains closed to allow the temperature around the assembly to rise quickly. Once the temperature reaches a certain point, the thermostat opens. This allows coolant to flow, and helps prevent the temperature from rising further.
If this component fails to open, it will block the passage of coolant. Because coolant will not be available to soak up heat, the temperature surrounding your engine will increase. This leads to overheating.
A failed thermostat is rarely repaired. Instead, it is replaced.
Faulty Water Pump
Your car's water pump is equipped with impellers that help circulate coolant throughout the cooling system. These impellers are connected to the water pump's shaft (inside the component's housing). They can break off, or gradually erode, both of which are common with cheaply-built pumps. Unfortunately, when the impellers are no longer capable of circulating coolant, your engine will become vulnerable to overheating.
When the pump fails, you'll need to replace it with a new unit. Avoid cheap replacements since they can expose your engine to damage.
What Happens When Your Engine Overheats?
When the temperature surrounding your engine rises to a higher-than-normal level, you'll notice the air-fuel mixture inside the cylinders starts to explode. This is called detonation. The pistons will eventually begin to slam into the valves, damaging them.
The high temperature will also lead to the development of hot spots within the cylinder bores. This causes a secondary problem called pre-ignition. The air-fuel mixture ignites without a spark, causing the combustion cycle to become unpredictable.
Overheating can also cause your head gasket to blow. The head gasket sits between the engine block and cylinder head. These pieces are made of different materials, and thus have different expansion rates. When exposed to high temperatures, the cylinder head expands faster than the block, and damages the head gasket.
Make sure your engine has plenty of oil, and your cooling system has plenty of coolant. When the parts mentioned above begin to fail, have them replaced as quickly as possible.
by: Ronald Dewitt
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