You don’t want your vehicle to overheat, but it can happen. Get a quick refresher on what to do if your car overheats and what may be causing the issue. Remember that Jiffy Lube can diagnose and repair your vehicle after your car overheats.
What to Do If Your Car Overheats
Before getting into what can cause a car to overheat, refresh your memory on what to do. You will want to stop driving and pull over somewhere safe. If you can’t do so immediately, turn off the air conditioner, turn the heat on high, and turn on the defroster. If you must keep driving, slow down as much as possible and switch to the lowest gear. Once you pull over, open the hood but don’t touch anything. Call a tow truck and have them bring you to a mechanic.
With that in mind, what are some reasons why your car overheats?
A Burst Hose
Your hoses move coolant throughout your engine, letting it cool. Damage to a hose can mean that the coolant never reaches its destination, causing a car overheat incident.
Broken Belts
If a belt is loose or broken, your auto’s overall system won’t work properly. Your car overheats due to the extra friction. Or if the belt is in the cooling system, the system may not work.
A Cooling System Leak
One typical cause of a car overheating is a leak in the cooling system. Thus, even a small leak can lead to problems if you don’t notice it immediately.
Low Coolant Concentration
If your car doesn’t have enough coolant or you use the wrong coolant, this can also lead to issues with overheating. This is why it is important to have a trained mechanic check and refill your coolant regularly.
Radiator Fan Issues
Your radiator fan circulates air around your coolant, keeping the coolant cool. If the fan breaks, it can’t efficiently circulate air, and the coolant may heat up, working less effectively.
Radiator Problems
If the radiator has a leak, blockage, or other damage, this may also lead to overheating. That is because the radiator is so important in keeping your engine cool.
Thermostat Issues
The thermostat is responsible for detecting the temperature and triggering coolant to move through the engine if it gets too hot. But if the thermostat is broken, this doesn’t happen.
Water Pump Problems
Your car’s water pump is crucial to the coolant system. The pump creates pressure that pushes the coolant through the system. So, if it doesn’t have enough pressure, your car can overheat.
Schedule Service at Jiffy Lube
The best way to prevent your car from overheating is to stay up-to-date with regular maintenance. Regular maintenance and inspections will confirm that nothing is broken or damaged and that your cooling system functions properly. It is also smart to have Jiffy Lube inspect your car after it overheats. Our technicians can confirm the cause and that there was no damage. We can also make repairs to prevent your car from overheating again in the future.
