What Are the Hazards of Overheating Engine?
2 Answers
Hazards of engine overheating: 1. Decrease in engine charging efficiency: Due to engine overheating, the temperature inside the engine compartment rises, reducing the engine's air intake capacity; 2. Abnormal engine combustion: The temperature of the air-fuel mixture entering the cylinders increases, raising the temperature of the entire engine cycle. With low radiator efficiency, the engine remains in an overheated state, causing the end-gas mixture in the combustion chamber to absorb more heat, intensifying pre-flame reactions and increasing the likelihood of knocking; 3. Engine oil deterioration: Under high temperature and pressure, the oxidation stability of engine oil deteriorates, accelerating its thermal decomposition, oxidation, and polymerization processes; 4. Ignition system malfunction: When driving in high-temperature environments, the high-voltage spark weakens due to the overheating of the ignition coil, leading to high-speed misfires. In severe cases, the ignition coil may burn out, affecting normal vehicle operation.
Last time I drove to the countryside, the dashboard coolant temperature warning light suddenly came on halfway, which really scared me. Later I learned that an overheated engine is no small matter. Prolonged high temperatures can cause metal components to deform, piston rings to seize up, and cylinder walls to get scratched. The scariest part is that the engine oil can degrade and lose its lubricating properties, leading to bearing seizure and complete engine failure. Moreover, the cylinder head gasket is especially prone to blowing under high temperatures, and if coolant mixes with the engine oil, the repair costs will skyrocket. If you smell burning or see smoke coming from the hood while driving, you must immediately pull over and turn off the engine. Wait for it to cool down naturally before calling a tow truck—forcing it to keep running could seriously damage critical components.
