What are the causes of high water temperature?
2 Answers
The causes of high water temperature are: 1. Scale deposits in the radiator and engine water jacket, leading to poor heat dissipation and rising water temperature; 2. Damaged thermostat, preventing coolant from circulating into the radiator; 3. Damaged water pump or slipping drive belt causing poor water pump performance; 4. Insufficient antifreeze leading to poor engine heat dissipation; 5. Cooling fan malfunction or low speed. The solutions for high water temperature are: 1. Clean the scale deposits in the engine; 2. Inspect or replace the thermostat; 3. Inspect or replace the water pump; 4. Add antifreeze to the engine; 5. Check the cause of fan malfunction or low speed.
I remember once on the highway, the temperature gauge suddenly rose to the red zone, which really scared me. I quickly pulled over, turned off the engine, and checked the coolant reservoir—it was almost empty. Upon closer inspection, I found a small hose connector had cracked and was slowly leaking coolant. Another time, the radiator fan was stuck and wouldn’t spin, likely due to a motor failure, preventing heat dissipation. If the thermostat gets stuck in the closed position, it can also block coolant circulation, causing heat buildup. A failing water pump is even worse—without coolant flow, it can lead to boiling. A radiator clogged with dust is a common issue, especially in summer when there’s more debris, drastically reducing cooling efficiency. All these issues can easily cause engine overheating. If not addressed promptly, the cylinder head gasket might burn through, leading to costly repairs. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to rinse the radiator grille every time I wash the car to prevent clogging.
