What are the reasons for engine overheating when the air conditioning is on?
2 Answers
Reasons are as follows: 1. Check if the electric fan is working properly: Normally, the electric fan has two gears, one is low speed and the other is high speed. The high-speed gear usually works when the air conditioning pressure is too high or when the engine's water temperature reaches 103 degrees Celsius. 2. Check if the thermostat's opening is insufficient: If the thermostat's opening is too small at normal temperature, it will cause the engine's cooling water to circulate slowly, resulting in high water temperature at low speeds. 3. Check if the water pump has idling phenomenon: The water pump impeller of the Jetta is made of plastic. If the shaft cracks, it will cause idling when the water temperature is high, leading to high water temperature.
I remember the engine overheating after turning on the air conditioning, and there are quite a few reasons for this. The most common one is that the air conditioning compressor increases the engine load. The compressor needs the engine to drive its operation, which consumes more power and causes the engine temperature to rise rapidly. If the cooling system isn't functioning well, such as the fan not spinning or the radiator fins clogged with dust, the cooling efficiency will be greatly reduced. Additionally, insufficient or aged and leaking coolant is more prone to evaporation and reduction during the summer heat. Aging or failing components like the water pump and thermostat can disrupt the cooling cycle. Driving habits also play a key role; frequent use of air conditioning in city traffic jams without sufficient ventilation for the engine makes it hard to lower the temperature. Personally, I experienced overheating when using the air conditioning on a long trip. I stopped in time to check and found the coolant tank empty and the fan motor having poor contact. It's advisable to perform regular maintenance, check coolant levels, clean the radiator, and monitor the temperature gauge when using the air conditioning. If the temperature exceeds normal levels, turn off the air conditioning and drive gently.
