You do not want to drive your car, truck, or C/SUV if the engine overheats all the time. Constant overheating can be a sign of a problem in the cooling system or poor vehicle maintenance. Bring your vehicle to Integrity Auto Repair if the engine is overheating constantly. It’s safer to have the vehicle towed to our shop rather than drive it.
Malfunctioning Water Pump
One thing that will make the engine overheat all the time is a malfunctioning water pump. This pump usually lasts about 10 years, so if you drive an older automobile and the engine is overheating, it’s possible that the water pump has gone bad.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
The same is true with the thermostat. It also lasts about 10 years. If the thermostat is malfunctioning, it will either release the coolant into the engine at the wrong time or fail to release the coolant at all. An engine without coolant will overheat quickly.
Leaking Engine Coolant
A cooling system leak will also reduce the levels of coolant in the engine. When this happens, the engine will overheat because it does not have enough coolant to keep the temperature under 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Coolant can leak out of the cooling system or heater core.
Clogged Cooling System
You may also have a problem with dirt and grime clogging the cooling system and preventing the flow of engine coolant through the engine. Unfortunately, this will make the engine overheat because not all of it is getting the benefit of the coolant.
Damage to the Radiator
A damaged radiator can also make your car overheat every time you drive it. The radiator can get clogged or sediment can eat away at the bottom of the radiator and cause it to leak. A clogged or leaking radiator cannot cool off the hot engine coolant before it circulates through the engine again. There may also be damage to the radiator fan.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Finally, poor vehicle maintenance can also make the engine overheat. Specifically, dirty motor oil is unable to draw heat away from the engine’s moving parts as it circulates through it. This can make the engine run hotter than normal.
Call Integrity Auto Repair in Eugene, OR, today to set up a service appointment for your automobile if the engine is overheating constantly. We will find out what the problem is and let you know what it will take to repair it.
