What are the consequences of engine overheating?
2 Answers
Engine overheating can cause problems with the car's cooling system, such as damage to the cylinder head gasket and thinning of the engine oil. After the engine cools down, open the radiator cap to check the coolant level in the radiator and reservoir, and see if the radiator is dirty or has deposits. If the coolant is insufficient, replenish the radiator and reservoir with coolant. If coolant is not available, add water as an emergency measure. Problems with the cooling system: After the engine cooling system overheats, the cooling system pipes may burst, or the heater core may rupture, causing water damage to electrical components in the cabin. Cylinder head gasket damage: This can damage the engine's cylinder head gasket. Once the gasket is damaged, coolant may enter the combustion chamber and participate in combustion, which may bend the connecting rod in some cases. Thinning of engine oil: When the engine temperature is too high, the engine oil may become too thin and fail to effectively lubricate the internal components of the engine. This can lead to increased wear of the engine bearings, crankshaft scoring, and sticking of the cylinder walls and pistons. How to handle engine overheating: Safely drive the vehicle off the road and park it in a safe place. Set the transmission to "P" and apply the parking brake. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn off the air conditioning if it is in use. If steam is coming from under the hood, open the hood while keeping the engine running. Check if the radiator fan is working properly. After the temperature gauge needle drops, turn off the engine.
As a veteran driver with years of experience, that time when my engine overheated on the highway almost got me into serious trouble. The coolant temperature suddenly spiked, the engine lost power and started smoking. I stubbornly kept driving, only to find out upon arrival that the piston rings had deformed and melted, and the cylinder head gasket was burnt out. The consequences were severe: accelerated part wear, oil and coolant mixing and damaging the oil passages, blue smoke from the exhaust; power dropped significantly, fuel consumption doubled; the scariest part was the risk of fire or explosion, leaving me terrified on the highway. The repairs cost me nearly 8,000 yuan, with part of the cylinder block replaced. I've learned my lesson now - I always check the temperature gauge, coolant level, and fan operation before trips, paying extra attention to cooling system cleanliness in summer. Don't repeat my mistake! Never ignore warning lights - safety comes first!
