One of the most annoying problems that can appear on a vehicle is to see its temperature gauge rising. In fact, a gauge that rises above 90/100° is usually a sign that your car is heating up. If you are in this case, you have done well to click on this link because we will help you to locate the origin and understand the cause. To do this, firstly, we will look at the reasons for engine overheating and the risks you run, and secondly, what solutions are available to you to stop this phenomenon.

my car heats up

Why is my car overheating? What are the risks?

A vehicle that heats up is a sign of a serious problem. You should not think that you will take care of it later because, if you do, you risk irreversibly damaging the engine of your car. Indeed, if your car heats up, and you keep driving, you simply risk the breakage of your car engine. An internal combustion engine works through combustion, which causes heat. This heat must be regulated because it can damage the engine parts. If you see white smoke starting to come out of your engine and you feel a loss of power, your car is heating up and you are damaging your engine, you must stop.

What are the causes of an heating up car?

  • A leak in the cooling systemIf you regularly run out of coolant and re-fill your system on a regular basis, you may have a leak, so have your system checked for leaks. It is also possible that it is your cylinder head gasket that is defective, in which case you should notice “mayonnaise” in the area of your engine oil cap.
  • A dead calorstat
    The function of this part is to switch on the engine cooling only when the engine is at optimum temperature, if it is damaged, the coolant will never reach the engine and your car will heat up. Check its condition.
  • A blocked radiator
    Although this situation is rarer, if your radiator is very dirty, or clogged with impurities, its cooling fins will no longer do their job and on hot days your vehicle may overheat.
  • A fan that no longer works
    Remember to check the state and operation of your fan, in addition to the air produced by the speed of your car, it has a decisive role in cooling your engine when it has to be the relay when you drive slower. In the event of a breakdown and travelling at low speed, your car will inevitably heat up.
  • A damaged water pump
    Finally, it is possible that your water pump is at the end of its life. Indeed, its role is to circulate the coolant throughout the circuit, in case of failure this process stops and your car heats up. This may be due to a faulty belt that has damaged your pump. If this is your case, go to your garage.

my car heats up

How can I solve the problem of an heating up car?

In addition to having checked all the parts that may be causing your car to heat up, you will have to make the right decisions to limit the risks in case your vehicle gets hot and you have no other solution than to go home, or to go to your mechanic.
Here are a few tips if your car is overheating:

  • Reduce your engine speed but not your speed:
    Reducing your engine speed will allow you to limit the heat emitted by the engine. On the other hand, try to stay in 5th gear at 70/80 km/h in order to have a large natural airflow to limit the heating of your car.
  • Stop the engine of your XXX if you exceed 100°:
    Don’t be in a hurry, in a case of overheating, it is better to take breaks and let the engine cool down rather than pushing it and risking breakage.
  • Turn on your heater:
    Turning on the heater will allow you to evacuate some of the heat from the engine block, it is an efficient solution. And conversely, turn off your air conditioner which produces heat.