Summer heat is here — but that doesn’t mean you have to deal with an overheating car. Keep an eye on your car’s temperature gauge and get help from a mechanic as soon as it starts to creep up higher than usual. Scheduling regular maintenance and watching your driving habits can go a long way toward keeping your engine at a healthy operating temperature so that you don’t have to deal with any surprises on the road. Let’s take a closer look at what can cause your car to overheat and which services can help prevent it from happening to you.
What Causes Your Car to Overheat?
If your car is overheating, the underlying cause can vary. Typically, the systems in your vehicle are built to handle normal driving conditions so that you’re not at risk of overheating or other issues. However, a lack of proper maintenance, more extreme driving conditions, and aggressive driving habits can put more strain on your car and potentially lead to overheating.
Lack of Regular Maintenance Services
One of the most important ways to prevent overheating and other urgent car problems is keeping up with regular maintenance. Engine oil changes, transmission fluid changes, and cooling system services all go a long ways toward keeping your car’s most important systems operating efficiently. Though they can’t prevent every repair, these services allow your mechanic to replace fluids that are important to your car’s operation, as well as inspect components that wear down gradually before they fail and cause bigger problems.
Strenuous Driving Conditions or Habits
When well taken care of, your car’s systems can handle normal driving conditions, as well as some more strenuous drives. However, towing heavy loads or driving across more challenging terrain will strain the engine, transmission, and cooling system. Certain driving habits, such as hard acceleration or frequent stop-and-go driving, can also speed up wear on these systems, potentially leading to a greater chance of overheating over time.
Schedule These Maintenance Services to Prevent Overheating
The key to keeping your vehicle operating smoothly is regular maintenance. You’ll enjoy better overall performance and significantly decrease your chances of an overheating engine. There are a few services in particular that will help engine function and keep the operating temperature moderated. Have fluids like coolant and engine oil replaced regularly, allow for inspection of internal components, and enjoy a lower likelihood of overheating.
Have Your Coolant Replaced or Flushed
Though you can check your coolant level and condition at home, it’s important to stick to a regular replacement schedule. For your vehicle’s exact recommendations, check your owner’s manual. However, most vehicles should have coolant replaced every 2-5 years, depending on the climate and your driving habits. This helps ensure there’s always adequate coolant in the system to draw out heat and dissipate it into the environment so that the engine doesn’t overheat.
Have the Cooling System Inspected
One of the most common sources of cooling system issues is the radiator. This is where coolant travels so that heat can dissipate before the fluid cycles back through the engine. If the radiator fan is faulty, coolant may not fully cool before continuing its circuit. The radiator is also a common source of coolant leaks. By scheduling regular cooling system inspections, issues with any components in the system can be caught early before more serious symptoms arise.
Oil Change Service
Engine oil serves multiple purposes for your vehicle, including lubrication and pressurization. As it cycles through the engine, it lubricates moving parts, minimizing heat-generating friction and therefore helping to prevent overheating. Over time, engine oil naturally picks up contaminants like metal shavings from moving parts, which causes it to thicken. Once engine oil becomes overly thickened, degraded, or low from a leak, the increase in friction can cause your car to overheat. Aim to schedule an oil change every 6-12 months as recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
Ensure Electrical Components are Working Efficiently
Though it may not be the first issue that comes to mind if your engine is overheating, keeping all electrical components operating well can help prevent excess strain on the engine. Features like the air conditioning require more power from the engine, increasing strain put on the system. Electrical issues may also prevent the radiator fan from working properly, which then prevents the dissipation of heat drawn out from the engine. Wiring, sensors, and other electrical components should be inspected regularly for signs of wear or damage.
Keep Cool with a Visit to AAMCO’s Chicagoland Mechanics
Stay cool this summer — both you and your car. Regular maintenance and inspections from your local AAMCO in Chicagoland can help keep you cool, calm, and collected each time you drive. You’ll enjoy improved performance from your vehicle and drive with confidence every day. Schedule your appointment with us today!
