What to Do When the Car's Water Temperature Doesn't Rise in Winter?
2 Answers
When the car's water temperature doesn't rise in winter, it's necessary to identify the cause and solve the problem. Here are some relevant introductions about radiator cooling: Precautions when draining water: There is a drain plug at the lower end of the radiator. Unscrewing it can drain the water, but be careful as high water temperature can easily cause burns. When refilling water, air needs to be purged. Some cars have a tube under the front hood, near the wipers, which can be pulled out to release air. After all the air is purged, water will flow out from the tube. Starting the water circulation: Start the engine and let the water temperature rise until the radiator fan turns on. Then check if the water is circulating, which can usually be observed from the radiator filler port. This completes the circulation process.
As a veteran taxi driver with 15 years of experience, let me tell you that the most common reason for the engine temperature not rising in winter is a stuck thermostat. That thing is supposed to open the circulation only when the coolant reaches 87°C. If it gets stuck in the open position, all the engine heat gets dissipated! You should also pay attention to the antifreeze ratio—adding too much water causes faster heat dissipation and leads to the same issue. I encountered this last year when the heater wouldn't warm up during traffic jams, but replacing the thermostat for around 100 yuan fixed it. For short-distance driving, it's even harder for the engine to warm up—if your trips are only 3-5 km, I recommend blocking part of the radiator grille with thick cardboard to reduce heat loss.
