What Are the Reasons for High Idle Temperature in Cars?
2 Answers
Reasons for high idle temperature in cars: 1. Lack of coolant or coolant leakage; 2. Dirty exterior surface or internal clogging of the radiator; 3. Damaged thermostat; 4. Damaged water pump; 5. Damaged cooling fan and control system. Solutions: 1. Simply replenish the coolant; 2. If the radiator is internally clogged, it is recommended to replace it with a new one; 3. It is recommended to replace the thermostat; 4. It is recommended to replace the new cylinder gasket. Idling is a working condition of a car, referring to the engine running in neutral gear. The engine speed during idling is called the idle speed, which can be adjusted by modifying the throttle size, etc. Idling means the engine is running without doing any work.
I used to drive a car where the coolant temperature would skyrocket at idle. Later, the issue was traced back to the cooling fan—either a loose fan belt or a faulty motor prevented it from spinning at idle, leading to insufficient cooling. Coolant is also crucial; if the level is too low or there’s a leak, the engine can’t cool down properly. Additionally, a stuck thermostat failing to open the main circulation or a clogged, dirty radiator with excessive buildup can severely hamper cooling efficiency. A faulty water pump is even worse—it drives coolant flow, and if it fails, the entire system collapses. My advice: first, check the fan to see if it kicks in; then inspect the coolant reservoir level and top it up if low. If that doesn’t help, get a mechanic to fix it—engine overheating can cause cylinder scuffing or head gasket failure, leading to costlier repairs. Regular maintenance, like radiator flushing and belt inspections, can prevent these issues.
