There are varied reasons why your engine can overheat. Listed are some of the most common causes of overheating
Not enough coolant – Driving the vehicle without the correct level of coolant may cause the engine to overheat. Refill the coolant or antifreeze to the correct level to prevent overheating.
Leaky cooling system – If the coolant system has leaks in the hoses, it can be identified by spots or puddles of leaking coolant below the vehicle.
Faulty water pump – The water pump primary function is to circulate coolant throughout the cooling system. If the coolant is dirty, filled with debris or has too much build-up, then the water pump may be clogged and stop working which leads to overheating of the engine.
Radiator fan – The radiator fan is used to dissipate heat from the coolant. A faulty fan will prevent heat from escaping from the coolant and may increase engine temperatures.
Low Oil levels- The engine oil has two purposes, one is to lubricate the moving parts of the engine and the second is to cool the engine down due to the high heat of friction. A low engine oil level may cause temperatures to rise.
Faulty thermostat – The engine thermostat regulate temperature in the engine by opening and closing a valve to allow coolant to flow to the radiator. A faulty thermostat will cause the engine to overheat because it is unable to maintain the right temperature by sending coolant to the radiator to take away heat.
Belts and hoses – The coolant hoses carry coolant from the engine to the radiator. If they are leaking, bent, blocked or ruptured, coolant will not find its way to the radiator to be cooled. Certain belts are powered by the engine to work the water pump. If the belts are frayed or worn out, the water pump will not be able to circulate water throughout the engine. This may lead to an overheating issue.
Faulty heater core – Coolant will not flow properly if the engine’s heat exchanger is blocked or clogged. This can cause an overheating condition in the engine.