What Are the Causes of High Engine Coolant Temperature?
2 Answers
Car engine coolant temperature may become excessively high due to the following reasons: 1. Installation-related causes: Excessive distance between the radiator and the engine, or the fan being positioned outside the air duct. This can be resolved by adjusting the radiator's mounting position. If the air conditioning condenser obstructs the radiator, there are two solutions: First, if there's sufficient space in the engine compartment, relocate the condenser; Second, if the alternator has sufficient output capacity, install an electric fan in front of the condenser. 2. Maintenance-related causes: Modern engines have compact designs with narrow coolant passages. In southern regions, always use softened water or distilled water to prevent scale buildup in the cooling system. In northern areas, only use genuine coolant (antifreeze) from authorized service stations to prevent cylinder head corrosion.
I've personally experienced a situation where the car engine's water temperature was too high. There are quite a few reasons for this: the most common one is insufficient coolant, which could be due to leaks or rapid consumption; sometimes the radiator gets clogged, leading to poor heat dissipation; if the water pump fails, the coolant won't circulate; the thermostat might get stuck in the closed position, preventing heat from escaping; the fan could be broken, especially when there's no airflow at idle; or the hoses might be old and leaking. That time, my car's temperature soared on the highway, and I had to pull over immediately to let it cool down. Prevention is simple: regularly check the coolant level, flush the system before seasonal changes, and don't let the engine overheat and get damaged. If it does happen, turn off the engine immediately and don't force it to run, to avoid damaging the engine. Proper maintenance can save you a lot of trouble.
