When your check engine light illuminates, it is often the first sign of car trouble. There are various reasons why your car’s check engine light could come on, from a loose gas cap or faulty chip, to a blown head gasket or something much worse. But when it comes to your engine overheating, there are 5 probable causes behind the problem; and the signs are not hard to see.

Continue reading to learn how to identify an overheating car engine, and the top 5 reasons why it happens.

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Is Your Car Engine Overheating?

One of the first signs of an overheating car engine is usually seeing the temperature gauge nearing or exceeding the maximum internal engine temperature level illustrated on the dial. Yet, most people just see smoke coming from the hood! You might also smell burning oil or fuel, which is another sign of your car engine overheating.

5 Causes for Overheated Engines:

⚙ Radiator Issues

There are two common radiator defects that can lead to a car engine overheating. First, you could have a bad radiator fan. This fan blows air over the radiator fins in order to help control the temperature of the coolant. If it comes loose, has broken shrouds, or spins freely when the engine is off, it cannot perform its intended duties, causing the coolant temperature to raise and overheat the engine. But if the fan is not the problem, it could just be a faulty radiator. Leaks, clogs, and broken lines can cause a radiator to malfunction, and subsequently cause a car engine to overheat.

⚙ Cooling System Issues

A vehicle’s cooling system lines can get blocked or clogged with rust, dirt, or sediment. This inhibits the cooling system from being able to do its job, thus causing the engine overheat. This is why regular fluid flushed and replacements are imperative. Another common cause of an overheating car engine in terms of a vehicle’s cooling system are leaks. Leaks in the cooling system are a frequent cause for overheating car engines. Also, if you use the wrong concentration of coolant, it can have the same affect. Be sure to get an even water-to-coolant ratio.

⚙ Thermostat Issues

A bad thermostat is another common reason for overheated car engines. It is a heat-sensitive valve that opens and shuts in accordance to engine temperature. If something goes wrong and the thermostat gets stuck in the closed position, the car engine’s temperature will skyrocket.

⚙ Water Pump Issues

The water pump is colloquially known as the “heart” of the vehicle since it pumps coolant much like a heart pumps blood. But a vehicle’s water pump pressurizes and propels coolant through the cooling system, so it plays a major role in a car’s temperature control. If something goes wrong, the coolant can’t make it to the engine, and the engine gets too hot.

⚙ Belt and Hose Issues

Broken and loose belts, as well as, worn or burst hoses, are common causes for overheating car engines. Belts turn the water pump, which is essential for the cooling system and more. If they stop working, so does the cooling system. A faulty hose means leaks, which means a lack of coolant. This also causes a car to overheat.

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Your Trusted Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers

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Comprehensive Insurance Coverage

Unless you have comprehensive insurance coverage for your vehicle, it WILL NOT be covered under policy in the case of an engine fire. You see, collision coverage will cover car wrecks, while comprehensive insurance policies cover all types of damage that can happen to a vehicle aside from a collision, such as vandalism, fallen tree, flooding, theft, and of course, engine fires.

In some states, comprehensive insurance coverage is mandatory for all vehicle owners, but most states keep it optional. However, if you are financing your vehicle, it is likely that your lender will require comprehensive coverage, even in you live in a state that does not legally enforce such insurance. This is especially true if the vehicle is being used as collateral for a loan.

Engines Fires

Engine fires can happen for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, engine fires are intentionally started for the purpose of vandalism, which is referred to as arson. Other times, car engines catch fire as a result of serious collisions, improper fuel storage, and faulty or defective automotive mechanics. Most auto insurance does not coverage mechanical malfunctions, but engine fires are typically an exception under such policies.

If an engine catches fire in your garage, even if the cause was accidental or a result of a system failure in the house, it will not be covered under homeowners’ insurance, but would be covered under comprehensive. Similarly, if your car is vandalized and set on fire, it will not be covered under your homeowners’ nor your automotive insurance (unless you have comprehensive).

Total Loss Vehicles

Virtually all engine fires cause a vehicle to be a total loss, which means the cost to repair it back to its original, pre-accident condition is higher than the current market value. When this happens, and you do not have comprehensive insurance coverage, you might be feeling like you are out of luck. Although you cannot receive an Actual Cash Value insurance settlement to buy a new car, you can sell it to a local junk car buyer. A Cash for Cars Company will pay you on the spot for your vehicle, regardless of its condition. This profit can be handy, as it can be applied toward a new car or car payment.

How Sell a Junk Car in Indiana

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell a junk car in Indianapolis, Indiana. We make the car selling process as easy as possible by offering FREE towing with our in-house tow truck! So all you have to do is call and accept our offer. We will schedule a time to pick up your vehicle and pay you CASH ON THE SPOT! We accept all vehicles and motorized commodities, regardless of age or condition. Request a free estimate, today!

GC’s Junk Cars 317-608-2188

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Monthly Archives: April 2020

5 Possible Causes for an Overheating Car Engine