What are the symptoms of an engine overheating?
2 Answers
The symptoms of an engine overheating include: 1. During hot idle, the air conditioning compressor clutch frequently engages and disengages, or even disconnects, resulting in no cooling from the air conditioning when the engine is hot; 2. When the engine is cold, the air conditioning cools effectively, but when the engine is hot, the cooling effect is not noticeable, and there is a significant resonance hum in the air conditioning system; 3. After the hot engine is turned off, it becomes difficult to start, and automatic stalling may occur while driving with a hot engine; 4. Increased engine noise; 5. When using the air conditioning in high temperatures, the idle becomes unstable with large RPM fluctuations, acceleration is sluggish, and abnormal engine noises may occur. The hazards of engine overheating are: 1. Gradual reduction in the mechanical properties of metal materials, leading to deformation and damage; 2. Normal clearances between components are disrupted due to thermal expansion of parts; 3. Engine oil viscosity decreases and oxidizes, reducing lubrication and accelerating part wear.
An overheating engine can be quite alarming. I remember once on the highway when the temperature gauge suddenly shot up to the red zone, with steam pouring out from under the hood like a boiling kettle. The car lost power, the throttle response became sluggish, and I could hear a concerning clicking noise. I immediately pulled over, popped the hood to check, and found coolant splashed everywhere—it was scalding hot. A mechanic friend later explained that high temperatures cause metal components to expand and warp, potentially burning out cylinder seals and leading to more severe internal engine damage. The key is not to push through it, or repair costs could skyrocket. Since then, I've made it a habit to regularly inspect the cooling system—ensuring the radiator and fan are functioning properly.
