Driving in a hot weather can lead to overheating of engine if the vehicle cooling system has not been maintained properly. There can be some issues that would cause the vehicle to overheat, the engine could be facing major trouble which include a cracked engine block or other problems that can be caused by a malfunction with the radiator, lack of coolant in the engine, or even a problem with the
engine oil. If the engine overheats it could be doing more damage to parts of your vehicle, which can result in a costly repair in the future.
CAUSES OF ENGINE OVERHEATING
Coolant leak is probably the most common cause of engine overheating. Possible leak points include hoses, the radiator, heater core, water pump, thermostat housing, head gasket, freeze plugs, automatic transmission oil cooler, cylinder head(s) and block.
Bad Thermostat: - Severe engine overheating can often damage a good thermostat. If the engine has overheated because of another problem, therefore, the thermostat should be tested or replaced before the engine is returned to service if not it will expose the engine to another cycle of overheating.
Weak Radiator Cap: - It is important to pressure test the radiator cap, too, because a weak cap will lower the coolant's boiling point and can allow coolant to escape from the radiator which will eventually make the engine to overheat.
Leaky Head Gasket: - A leaky head gasket can allow coolant to seep into the engine's cylinders or crankcase. That will result in overheating in the engine due to loss of coolant with no visible external leaks, and white steam in the exhaust, especially after restarting the engine when it has sit for awhile.
Faulty Fan Clutch: - With mechanical fans, most engine overheating problems are caused by a faulty fan clutch, though a missing fan shroud can reduce the fan's cooling effectiveness by as much as 50% (depending on the fan's distance from the radiator) which may be enough to cause the engine to overheat in hot weather or when working hard.
Leaky Water pump: - Any wobble in the pump shaft or seepage would call for replacement. In some instances, a pump can cause an engine to overheat if the impeller vanes are badly worn due to corrosion or if the impeller has come loose from the shaft. The wrong pump may also cause an engine to overheat. Some engines with serpentine drive belts require a special water pump that turns in the opposite direction of those used on the same engine with ordinary V-belts.
Slipping Belt: - A loose belt that slips may prevent the water pump from circulating coolant fast enough and/or the fan from turning fast for proper cooling. It is important to the check belt tension and condition regularly.
Lower Radiator Hose Collapsing: - A squeezed upper or lower radiator hose that is collapsing and blocking the flow of coolant when the engine is running can cause engine overheating. The lower hose usually has a metal reinforcing wire inside that looks like a large spring. It's purpose is to prevent the hose from collapsing when the water pump is pulling water through the hose. If this wire is missing or has failed due to corrosion, the hose may collapse.
Plugged or Dirty Radiator: - Dirt and debris can block air flow through the radiator and reduce its ability to dissipate heat. Internal corrosion and an accumulation of deposits can also block the flow of coolant. One of the easiest way to clean radiator is through back-flushing the cooling system or using chemical cleaners to remove rust and hard water scale on the radiator.
Excessive Exhaust Back-Pressure: - A clogged catalytic converter will restrict the flow of exhaust and cause heat to back up in the engine. Other causes include a crushed exhaust pipe or a collapsed double wall pipe. Check intake vacuum at idle for reading. If intake vacuum reads low and continues to drop, inspect the exhaust system.
Dragging Brakes: - A disc brake caliper that is sticking or a parking brake that is not releasing may be making your engine work harder than normal to overcome the friction. Check the brakes and fix as needed before and stop subjecting your engine to unnecessary workload.
Overworking the engine: - The cooling systems in many passenger cars today are marginal and have little excess capacity to handle extra heat generated by towing or high speed mountain driving in hot weather. Replacing the original stock radiator with a larger or thicker radiator can improve cooling capacity.
Low Grade Engine-Oil: - The engine oil you are using has a major effect on your vehicle. Not only do you need to make sure to have the right amount of oil, but you also need to use the right grade. Low grade engine-oil break down faster and it's implication is that less lubrication will be provide to moving parts of the engine. And when this happens, the parts will start rubbing against each other more and the engine will start to heat up which in turn result in overheating. It is advisable to use recommended or synthetic oil on high performance engines because it does not break down as quickly.
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