Though you may love the warm fuzzy summers, your car needs to stay cool when the temperatures are soaring high. An overheated engine can damage the vehicle and threaten your safety. There are many reasons why your car may heat up. The reasons are not limited to hot temperatures. It may be that your car is not functioning effectively. Here are a few commonly recognized problems that cause cars to heat:
Coolant
Every car is equipped with a cooling mechanism to keep the temperature of the engine down. If there is a leak, block, or pump malfunction, this cooling mechanism will not function efficiently. In that case, the engine will tend to heat up. This can happen even in cooler temperatures.
Thermostat
Vehicle thermostat controls the flow of coolant through the engine. Broken and malfunctioning functions can cause the thermostat to function ineffectively.
Low oil
Oil helps to lubricate the moving parts in a car and remove excess heat from the engine. If your car is low on oil, it can cause your car to overheat.
Radiator fan
The coolant fan must turn on and off at the right time for it to cool down the engine appropriately. If the radiator fan is not functioning correctly, the engine is likely to heat up.
Here are our top 10 tips that will help you to make sure your car does not overheat in summer.
Parking in the shade
One of the simplest ways to ensure that your car is not heating up is to park it in the shade, away from direct sunlight. Direct sunlight not only heats up the engine but also causes discoloration on the car body and the inside upholstery like seat covers. You can also consider tinted windows to keep the sunlight out of the car and keep the interiors relatively cooler.
Sunshade
Finding shade for parking your car has sort of become a luxury, especially in cities like Toronto and Mississauga. It is a good idea to carry a sunshade with you if you know that your car is going to be parked in the sun for a long duration.
Eliminating hot air in the car
Closed car doors and windows parked in an open parking lot can result in a lot of hot air trapped inside the car. It may be a good idea to leave the car windows slightly down so air can circulate evenly across the interiors of the car.
Turning on floor vents
Entering a heated car, one may be tempted to turn on the air vents to get the AC flowing right at you. However, experts recommend directing the airflow towards the floor as hot air rises so you can easily push the hot air trapped in the car easily. Once the car has cooled you can open the upper vents.
Use the fresh air setting
Using the air circulation setting in a closed window car means that you are circulating the same hot air in the car. Make sure to use the fresh air setting so that you eliminate the hot air out and the cold air.
Temperature gauge
Use the temperature gauge as an indicator of the temperature of your car. Make sure that the device needle is pointing toward the center. If it is indicating heat, turn off the car and let the engine cool down.
Engine coolant
Make sure to check your coolant level and add coolant when needed. Always wait for the engine to cool down before adding the coolant. Before adding fresh coolant, have your coolant system flushed out completely by a mechanic every 40,000 miles.
Battery replacement
If you have had your car for more than three years, it is likely that the battery is causing the car engine battery to heat up. Car experts can help you to determine if you need a replacement.
Cars R Us is a one-stop trusted auto repair service center for all your automobile needs like tire repair, alignment, engine inspection, brake check, etc.
