One of the most bothersome problems that can appear on a Toyota Rav 4 is to watch its temperature gauge increasing. The truth is, a gauge that rises above 90/100° is usually an indication that your Toyota Rav 4 is heating up. If you are in this case, you have done well to check out this link because we will make it easier for you to situate the origin and understand the trigger. To achieve this, firstly, we will check out the reasons for engine overheating and the consequences you run, and secondly, what solutions are available to you to eliminate this phenomenon.
Why is my Toyota Rav 4 overheating? What are the risks?
A Toyota Rav 4 that heats up is an indicator of a significant issue. You should not think that you will take care of it later on because, if you do, you risk irreversibly harming the engine of your car. In actual fact, if your Toyota Rav 4 heats up, and you keep driving, you just risk the breakage of your car engine. An internal combustion engine works through combustion, which triggers heat. This heat must be controlled because it can affect the engine parts. If you see white smoke starting to emerge out of your engine and you experience a loss of power, your Toyota Rav 4 is heating up and you are harming your engine, you must stop.
What are the causes of an heating up Toyota Rav 4 ?
- A leak in the cooling system
If you repeatedly run out of coolant and refill your system frequently, you could have a leak, so have your system checked out for leaks. It is also plausible that it is your cylinder head gasket that is defective, in that case you should detect “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 Toyota Rav 4 will heat up. Check its condition. - A blocked radiator
Although this scenario is not so common, if your radiator is very dirty, or clogged with impure substances, its cooling fins will no longer complete their job and on hot days your Toyota Rav 4 might 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 Toyota Rav 4, it has an important role in cooling your engine when it has to be the relay when you drive slower. In case of a breakdown and travelling at low speed, your car will unavoidably heat up. - A damaged water pump
Finally, it is plausible that your water pump is at the end of its life. In actual fact, its purpose is to rotate the coolant throughout the circuit, in case there is failure this operation stops and your Toyota Rav 4 heats up. This might be due to a faulty belt that has broken your pump. If this is your case, go to your workshop.
How can I fix the issue of an heating up Toyota Rav 4?
In addition to having checked out all the parts that may be causing your Toyota Rav 4 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 option than to go home, or to go to your auto mechanic.
Here are a few recommendations if your car is overheating:
- Reduce your engine speed but not your speed:
Reducing your engine speed will allow you to limit the heat released by the engine. However, 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 Toyota Rav 4. - Stop the engine of your Toyota Rav 4 if you go above 100°:
Don’t be in a rush, 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 useful answer. And conversely, turn off your air conditioner which produces heat.
To get more tips on the Toyota Rav 4, take a look at the Toyota Rav 4 category.
