The number one symptom of a faulty cooling system is overheating. If your automobile overheats every time that you drive it, head straight to our shop so we can inspect the cooling system to find the problem. In addition to cooling system problems, constant overheating can also be caused by a cracked engine block or head gasket. Getting back to the cooling system, however, the following are symptoms of a faulty cooling system that will cause your automobile to overheat.
Clogs
Clogs in the cooling system can prevent the coolant from making its way through the engine in its entirety. Unfortunately, this will leave portions of the engine without coolant. When this happens, those portions will get too hot. Consequently, the heat will transfer to other portions of the engine until the entire engine is overheating. Servicing the cooling system regularly helps prevent clogs.
Leaks
Servicing the cooling system regularly also helps to prevent leaks in the cooling system. For example, if we service your cooling system and see that a radiator hose is leaking, we can replace the hose so the engine does not lose coolant. The cooling system leak will reduce the amount of coolant that is circulating through the engine. Consequently, the engine will overheat.
Malfunctions
You may also end up with malfunctioning parts in the cooling system that will cause the engine to overheat. Specifically, the thermostat can malfunction and fail to release the coolant into the engine. Generally, the thermostat lasts approximately a decade. If your car is older than this and overheating, you may have a malfunctioning thermostat under the hood.
In addition, the water pump also lasts about a decade. Consequently, it may be the reason why your cooling system is failing to keep the engine’s temperature in the normal range. The water pump works to move the coolant through the engine so that all of the engine remains under 220 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water pump is malfunctioning, the coolant circulation may be bad.
Radiator Problems
Finally, the radiator can also suffer if it is not serviced regularly. Sediment can build up on the bottom of the radiator and eat through it. This will cause the radiator to leak. The sediment can also build up and clog the radiator. In addition, the radiator can get damaged by road debris. If the radiator is faulty, it will need to be replaced with a new one to restore your cooling system’s functionality.