Why Is My Car Overheating?

From a leak in your cooling system to a faulty radiator, there are several reasons why a car would overheat in Crawfordville traffic. Your vehicle has a normal operating temperature that should fall between 195 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit — if you start your car and see that the temperature is climbing much higher than normal, stay put. Attempting to drive a vehicle that is overheating can be dangerous and will more than likely cause the underlying issue to worsen. 

If you’re asking yourself “Why is my car overheating?” Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet is here to help. Our service experts provide a closer look at what causes a car to overheat and explain what to do when a car overheats, all in the guide below!

What Causes a Car to Overheat?

What does it mean when your car overheats? There are several potential reasons a car would overheat. Learn more about the most common causes of an overheated vehicle so you can be better equipped to avoid this problem while out in Quincy:

• Leak in the cooling system – What causes a car to overheat? Most commonly, a leak in the cooling system is the culprit. The cooling system has many components that can spring a leak, including the radiator, hoses, water pump, head gasket, and thermostat housing.
• Problem with the coolant – The coolant-to-water ratio in your car should be 50:50. If the ratio is off, or if the wrong type of coolant was recently put in your car, this could be what’s causing it to overheat.
• Blockage in the coolant hose – Dirt and other road debris can sometimes get into your cooling system and cause congestion in the coolant hose. When the coolant hose is blocked, your car might overheat.
• Faulty radiator – Another reason a car would overheat is a faulty radiator. The radiator fan could be broken, or there could be a blockage or leak. 
• Broken water pump – The water pump that sends engine coolant throughout the cooling system may have a leak or a shifted pump shaft. 

What To Do When a Car Overheats

Just as important as knowing what causes a car to overheat is knowing what to do when a car overheats. If you’re running errands in Havana and your car overheats, pull over to a protected area as soon as it’s safe to do so. If it’s going to take a couple of minutes until you can pull over, turning the heater on at full power can help pull heat off of the engine. 

Once you’re pulled over safely, shut the car off. From here, you have two options:

• If you have coolant on hand: Give the engine at least 15–30 minutes to cool down, then pop the hood and check the coolant level. If the coolant is low, top it off, then wait a few minutes to restart your car. This should help keep your engine cool enough so that you can safely drive to the nearest repair shop. 
• Have your vehicle towed: If you don’t have any coolant or you’d rather not attempt to deal with the overheated engine on your own, you should call a towing service to have your car towed to the nearest repair shop. 

Get Engine Service at Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet

If you’re in Tallahassee when your car overheats, you can have your car towed to the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet service center for fast, reliable service. Our experienced technicians will diagnose the issue promptly and get you safely back on the road! We even offer rotating service specials to help you save on surprise repairs. With any questions or concerns, contact us and our service advisors will be happy to help.