Overheating

hello, why when the car is in a blockade for a long time it begins to overheat?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Most vehicles will overheat when the cooling system is malfunctioning. This can be due to a stuck closed thermostat, leaking coolant and system is low on coolant. The engine may have leaking gaskets. Since the vehicle is not know we are not able to give specifics on needed repairs. I would recommend having a mobile mechanic like one from YourMechanic come to you and check the cause of the engine overheating.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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Common causes include poor coolant concentration or low coolant level, failed thermostat, bad water pump, coolant leak, low engine oil level, faulty radiator fan, cracked radiator, loose hose clamp, worn or cracked coolant hose, or a broken belt.
If your car is overheating, you should definitely not drive it. This could be due to several factors, including low coolant levels or a faulty cooling system. Driving an overheated car puts additional strain on the engine, leading to further damage and costly repairs down the road.
Radiators are comprised of long tubes through which coolant circulates. The primary cause of an overheating radiator is debris and sediment building up inside the tubes and causing a blockage. This then means that coolant cannot pass through, causing the radiator and subsequently the engine to overheat.
Can an engine survive overheating? Yes – as long as you respond quickly and don`t let your car go into full meltdown mode, it should be repairable. Too much heat can result in further complications, such as cracks leading to significant oil leaks or loss of performance.
Technically speaking yes you can use plain water in your cooling system but it isn`t recommended as a long term solution and certainly not in extreme weather conditions.
Only Use Water In The Radiator In An Emergency

If it`s really low or actually empty, you need to add fluid to your vehicle. While it`s ideal to add a 50/50 mix of coolant and water (or a pre-mixed coolant), if you absolutely have to keep driving, you can add water to the radiator to get you to your destination.

It`s usually noticed if your coolant is low, but low oil can also cause the engine to overheat. This can occur even if your coolant level is fine. If there is too little oil in the engine, it will continue to heat up because it has no opportunity to cool.
If your radiator is clogged, it can cause damage to the water pump. The water pump is responsible for circulating the coolant throughout the engine. If the coolant can`t flow properly, it can cause the water pump to overheat and fail. This will eventually lead to your engine overheating as well.
If your vehicle constantly overheats, especially under normal driving conditions, this is one of the most common signs that your radiator is bad or failing. The radiator is the only thing that keeps the engine cool. But overheating doesn`t mean the radiator has failed.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

car is overheating and leaking water and anti freeze
ANSWER : Coolant leaks can occur because of cracked hoses, leaking gaskets, faulty water pumps, or damaged radiators. When the coolant level goes low, the engine will start to overheat due to the low coolant level. I would first recommend giving the cooling system a visual look over. If it is not obvious where the coolant leak is coming from, I would recommed having the cooling system pressure tested in order to determine the leak source. If you would like to have your cooling system pressure testedcoolant is leaking inspection, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can come to your home or office to inspect your cooling system.

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Overheating and boiling out the reservoir.
ANSWER : Hey there. The next thing you need to do is confirm the thermostat is opening and test to see if the radiator is clogged or not. Begin by warming your car up. Don’t drive it, just let it idle or hold it on a high idle. Depending on the ambient temperature, this can take a half hour or more for the thermostat to open. You will know the thermostat is open by touching the upper radiator hose. The hose that comes off of the thermostat housing. When it begins to get hot, the thermostat is opening. The stat will cycle open and closed during the warm up process. A motor is not fully warm until the stat reaches a point of equilibrium. Meaning, it stays open at a constant amount. If your car begins to overheat and the upper radiator hose does not get hot, you will need to figure out what is going on with the thermostat. It could be installed wrong or even bad. I have had new stats be bad several times.

If the stat opens correctly and your car is fully warm, take it for a quick spin around the block. Come back to a stop in your driveway or other parking spot, turn the motor off, key off, open the hood and reach in and touch the radiator from top to bottom and side to side. You are feeling for cold spots. They will be obviously cold in comparison to the rest of the radiator. It is normal for the lower part of the radiator to be colder than the top. That only means the radiator is cooling as it should.

If after doing these two things your car still overheats, it is time to consider head gasket problems. You can use a block tester kit from your local auto parts store or you can book and appointment with us. Testing for head gasket problems can be cumbersome and only experience will allow you to make an accurate determination. I recommend a having an overheating inspection to have this accurately diagnosed and corrected.

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My 2009 Equinox is overheating intermittently. It overheated in the summer and tnen not again for 3 months then twice in one week
ANSWER : Check the coolant level to be sure it is adequate. Of course, if the coolant level is low enough to cause overheating, you may have a coolant leak. If the overheating is intermittent that would point to a possibly sticking thermostat, malfunctioning controls for the cooling fans, or the fans themselves, and possibly an engine operating condition such as an excessively lean air fuel ratio. Other common causes of overheating include low coolant level, a plugged radiator, collapsed hoses, and a faulty water pump or drive belt. Certain engine faults, such as a leaking head gasket or poor engine running condition can also cause overheating. If you desire that this problem be diagnosed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an engine overheating diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

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Engine Overheating after 20-30 minutes. Why?
ANSWER : Hi there. One of the easiest ways to test a water pump is to carefully place your hand on the lower radiator hose while the motor is running. Two things should happen; first, as you suggested, the hose should feel "hard" and you should always feel motion through the hose. One other thing to check is your heater. If the heater is not working (supplying hot air), then you’ve got an obstruction inside the heater core; which can also create overheating problems. If you can’t resolve your issues soon, feel free to contact one of our professional mobile mechanics and have them complete a car is overheating inspection.

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My 2003 honda civic EX 1.7L is overheating. I replace the thermostat, replace the cooling fan temperature switch, remove the radia
ANSWER : It is likely your engine has a blown head-gasket, worn out water pump or somehow has a huge air bubble inside the engine that needs to be bled. The drop in engine temperature while on the freeway is actually a good sign – it indicates your radiator is getting good coolant flow, and the radiator is doing its job, transferring heat out of the engines cooling system. A YourMechanic certified technician can come to your location to perform a Car is overheating Inspection on your vehicle and help you diagnose and repair this issue.

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Got new water pump less than 9 months ago. Now boiling sound and overheating smell. Temp says its good
ANSWER : Hello. The overheating issue your vehicle is having is likely not caused by the water pump once again. Though an inspection of your water pump performance should be checked when trying to diagnose this issue. The temperature gauge not going up to hot when the water is boiling will be a malfunction of the coolant temperature sensor. Overheating is likely caused by a faulty thermostat, a clogged coolant system, coolant system leak, or a bad head gasket. I suggest to have a technician perform an inspection of the possibilities I just mentioned including the coolant temperature sensor and it’s related wiring to help pinpoint exactly why the vehicle is overheating.

You are able to find a technician and schedule an appointment for your vehicle overheating here

https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-overheating-inspection

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My truck is overheating I changed the thermostat and radiator.so why is it still overheating?
ANSWER : If you changed the radiator and thermostat and still overheats due to no coolant circulation then you have a water pump that is not circulating the coolant. The pump fins can get worn off, unable to pump and circulate the coolant. The radiator fan also needs to be checked for proper operation after the pump is replaced.

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My heat in my car stopped working two days ago and now my car is overheating. I put antifreeze in my car and it’s still overheating 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
ANSWER : Hi there – you may have 2 related events here, a coolant leak, and a problem with the heater system. The current issue may be air inside the cooling system, which can cause overheating, and a lack of heater function. The lack of heater function could have 5 causes: the engine is not getting up to correct temperature (center of the gauge) due to a malfunctioning thermostat, the heater control valve is not letting hot coolant into the heater core, there is a restriction in the heater system that is preventing adequate hot coolant flow through the heater core, the heater fan is not working to transfer heat from the heater core to warm air for the passenger compartment, or the air blend doors inside the heater are not working properly to route warm air to the desired vents. I would recommend a heater system inspection](https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-is-not-working-inspection) by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

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