One of the most troublesome problems that can show up on a Volkswagen Atlas is to watch its temperature gauge rising. The truth is, a gauge that rises above 90/100° is commonly an indication that your Volkswagen Atlas is heating up. If you are in this case, you made the good choice to check out this link because we will make it easier for you to find the source and understand the cause. To do this, in the beginning, we will check out the explanations for engine overheating and the risks you run, and next, what answers are available to you to stop this phenomenon.
Why is my Volkswagen Atlas overheating? What are the risks?
A Volkswagen Atlas that heats up is a symptom of a significant problem. You should not think that you will manage it in the future because, if you do, you risk irreversibly damaging the engine of your car. In actual fact, if your Volkswagen Atlas 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 damage the engine parts. If you see white smoke starting to emerge out of your engine and you feel a loss of power, your Volkswagen Atlas is heating up and you are damaging your engine, you must stop.
What are the causes of an heating up Volkswagen Atlas ?
- A leak in the cooling system
If you regularly run out of coolant and refill your system on a regular basis, you could have a leak, so have your system inspected for leaks. It is also possible that it is your cylinder head gasket that is defective, in which particular case you should find “mayonnaise” in the area of your engine oil cap. - A dead calorstat
The role of this part is to switch on the engine cooling only when the engine is at optimum temperature, if it is broken, the coolant will never reach the engine and your Volkswagen Atlas will heat up. Check its condition. - A blocked radiator
Even though this circumstance is rarer, if your radiator is very dirty, or clogged with impurities, its cooling fins will no longer conduct their work and on hot days your Volkswagen Atlas might overheat. - A fan that no longer functions
Don’t forget to check the state and operation of your fan, in addition to the air produced by the speed of your Volkswagen Atlas, it has a decisive duty in cooling your engine when it has to be the relay when you drive slower. In the instance of a breakdown and travelling at low speed, your car will inevitably heat up. - A damaged water pump
To conclude, it is possible that your water pump is at the end of its life. In actual fact, its role is to rotate the coolant throughout the circuit, in case there is problem this process stops and your Volkswagen Atlas heats up. This might be as a result of a faulty belt that has harmed your pump. If this is your case, go to your mechanic.
How can I resolve the problem of an heating up Volkswagen Atlas?
Additionally to having inspected all the parts that may be causing your Volkswagen Atlas 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 alternative than to go home, or to go to your repair shop.
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 emitted by the engine. However, try to stay in 5th gear at 70/80 km/h in order to have a large natural airflow to control the heating of your Volkswagen Atlas. - Stop the engine of your Volkswagen Atlas if you go over 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 gets rid of some of the heat from the engine block, it is an useful answer. And in contrast, turn off your air conditioner which produces heat.
To get more tips on the Volkswagen Atlas, take a look at the Volkswagen Atlas category.
