What Causes High Car Temperature?
3 Answers
The reasons for high car temperature include: 1. Cooling Fan: The cooling fan is not rotating or has malfunctioned. 2. Cooling Medium: Issues with the cooling medium, such as the coolant being depleted, leading to excessively high temperature in the car radiator. 3. Thermostat: Damage to the thermostat; this type of fault requires sending the car to a 4S shop for repair. 4. Radiator: Radiator malfunction, which may require replacing the radiator water or the entire radiator. Steps to resolve high engine radiator temperature: 1. Stop and Wait: Pull over to a safe area, set up a warning sign, open the engine hood, and turn off the engine. 2. Cool Down: Wait for a period until the engine's water temperature has sufficiently cooled down before checking the engine's coolant level.
This scorching weather is unbearable, and cars can suffer from heatstroke too! Last time I was on the highway, the coolant temperature suddenly spiked into the red zone. Upon inspection, I found the radiator was leaking antifreeze, leaving only a small amount in the reservoir. If the temperature rises rapidly in traffic, it might be due to the electric fan failing—either a bad bearing or wiring issues can prevent the fan from spinning. A radiator clogged with poplar fluff or insect remains is also troublesome, as heat can’t dissipate, like wearing a down jacket in a sauna. A stuck thermostat is even more dangerous, trapping coolant in the engine without circulating through the system. Once, I saw a corroded water pump impeller break off, preventing antifreeze from flowing at all. Incorrect tire pressure or heavy loads on long uphill climbs can also add extra strain to the engine. If the temperature gauge hits the red, pull over quickly, turn off the engine, and let it cool down slowly before checking—don’t rush to open the radiator cap to avoid burns!
When repairing cars, I often see coolant shortages causing trouble, mainly due to aging pipe leaks or radiator cracks. A radiator core clogged with dirt is also common; remember to flush it from the inside out with a water gun. The water pump seal leak is particularly hidden and often goes unnoticed until the antifreeze is completely drained. Electronic fan failures are mostly due to a faulty temperature control switch; testing by shorting the connector with a screwdriver is the easiest. If the thermostat is stuck, open the hood when the water temperature reaches 90 degrees and feel the temperature difference between the upper and lower hoses to confirm. Insufficient oil leads to rapid temperature rise due to poor lubrication, and old, unchanged oil becomes thick and dissipates heat poorly. For turbocharged cars, a clogged intercooler is even worse, as high intake temperatures cause the mixture to become too lean. Modified cars that recklessly remove the thermostat are the most problematic, causing significant cold engine wear and higher fuel consumption.
