What Causes High Engine Temperature?

[JonathanMarie]

Here are several common causes of engine overheating: 1. Insufficient coolant leading to high temperature: Coolant deficiency is the easiest to identify—simply open the engine hood and check the coolant level. If the coolant level is below the "MIN" mark, it indicates insufficient coolant. 2. Dirty radiator causing temperature rise: If the engine compartment accumulates excessive dust due to long-term lack of cleaning, it can lead to poor heat dissipation in the radiator, resulting in high engine temperature. Generally, overheating caused by excessive dust on the radiator can be resolved by simply cleaning the dust off the radiator. 3. Thermostat malfunction causing temperature rise: The thermostat's function is to automatically adjust the amount of water entering the radiator based on the coolant temperature, altering the water circulation range to regulate the cooling system's heat dissipation capacity, ensuring the engine operates within the appropriate temperature range. If high temperature is noticed during normal driving, open the engine hood and touch the radiator's inlet and outlet pipes to check for a temperature difference. If a temperature difference exists, it indicates a faulty thermostat that cannot function properly, leading to high engine temperature. 4. Electric fan malfunction causing temperature rise: Fan failure is another cause of engine overheating. A non-operational fan leads to insufficient radiator cooling, causing high engine temperature. There are many reasons for fan failure, including fan motor malfunction, thermostat failure, or a blown fan fuse, all of which can prevent the fan from operating.