Your engine operates at a high temperature due to the continual movement of numerous components and the heat generated by combustion. An engine temperature that’s continually high can result in engine damage. If your engine gets too hot, your Nissan dealer in College Park, MD, can fix it for you. These are some reasons why you have a car overheating.
Tips for When Your Car Overheats
Coolant Leak
Coolant is vital for your engine, as it traps engine heat and removes it. Coolant circulates through your engine and absorbs heat as it moves. This heat is locked inside the coolant and transported to the radiator. Once inside the radiator, the heat is removed from the coolant by heat exchange. The coolant moves at high speed and under high pressure, and even a tiny hole in the system can result in a rapid coolant loss.
Coolant can leak from damaged radiator hoses, a crack in the radiator, or a worn seal. Fortunately, coolant leaks are usually easy to spot as coolant is pink, green, blue, or yellow. As your engine loses coolant, the pressure and speed in the cooling system drop, and the engine temperature will increase. We can easily trace and repair a coolant leak then we’ll refill your coolant.
Damaged Radiator Cap
The radiator cap is attached to the top of the radiator, and it controls the pressure in the system. As we’ve seen, the cooling system must operate at a high pressure to work speedily and effectively. If the system pressure rises too high, the cap opens to bleed off the excess pressure. The cap has two seals that ensure the system remains airtight and the pressure is maintained.
We check the seals during your regular engine services to ensure that they are in good condition. Worn or damaged seals can lead to coolant leaks or pressure loss, and this reduces the efficiency of the cooling system. You can always spot a leak from the radiator cap, as coolant will leave white streaks behind. We’ll examine the cap and seals and replace them if necessary.
Failed Water Pump
Coolant is released into your engine when the engine temperature hits a pre-set level. When this happens, the thermostat opens and releases coolant, which is then pumped through your engine at high speed. When the engine temperature drops below the pre-set level, the coolant will be withdrawn and the thermostat will close.
The water pump is responsible for pumping the coolant through the system, and its failure will have serious consequences for your engine. If coolant can’t flow through your system, your engine temperature will rapidly rise. We can fix this problem by installing a new water pump.
Schedule an Engine Service in College Park, MD!
An overheating engine can cause long-term damage to your engine. Call us right away at DARCARS Nissan of College Park.
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