Why Do Both Sides of the Front of the Car Get Hot?

[ElijahLee]

The engine itself operates at very high temperatures. If the front hood becomes very hot after driving for a while, but the dashboard shows normal coolant temperature, this is a normal situation. However, if the engine temperature remains excessively high, you should stop and inspect the vehicle as soon as possible to rule out any faults causing abnormal engine temperature. Methods to troubleshoot engine overheating are as follows: 1. Check if the coolant temperature gauge is malfunctioning or inaccurate: If the gauge is functioning normally, inspect whether the coolant temperature sensor and thermostat are working properly. Generally, if these components are damaged or malfunctioning, engine overheating can be one of the symptoms, often accompanied by changes in fuel consumption and difficulty starting the engine. 2. Check if the coolant level is normal: If the coolant is too low or leaking, it will naturally cause the engine temperature to rise, potentially leading to severe overheating ("boiling over"). This can also affect the strength of various engine components, disrupting normal clearances. Minor cases may result in cylinder or bearing damage, while severe cases can lead to complete engine failure or scrapping. 3. Check if the car's cooling fan is working properly: The fan is installed near the engine compartment side, behind the radiator. If the fan stops working, the radiator cannot be cooled effectively, and over time, the temperature will rise, leading to engine overheating.

[Alana]

An overheated engine hood is quite common, especially after highway driving or during summer traffic jams. As a mechanic, I often see customers touching the scorching-hot sides of the hood and getting worried. It's mainly due to heat transfer from high-temperature components in the engine bay—big heat sources like the radiator and turbocharger are packed in the front. The cooling fan blows hot air, which also rushes through the gaps in the fenders, making the metal panels feel hot to the touch. As long as the coolant temperature gauge is normal and there's no burning smell, there's no need to panic. But if the temperature gets so high that it could ignite roadside leaves, immediately check for coolant leaks or a failed cooling fan—this directly affects whether the engine might seize.

[DiNoah]

When I first started driving, I was always worried that the hot engine bay meant something was wrong. It wasn't until I worked at a tuning shop that I understood the principle. The high temperature on both sides of the front is actually the cooling system at work. Engine heat is transferred through coolant to the radiator for dissipation, and the fan draws cold air through the grille to cool the radiator. The exhaust manifold is right there radiating heat, and it's even more extreme in turbocharged cars - after a high-speed run, the turbo housing gets red hot enough to fry an egg! As long as there are no warning lights on the dashboard, this is normal physics. However, prolonged high temperatures can accelerate rubber component aging. Regularly cleaning out the poplar fluff and insect remains between the radiator layers can effectively reduce temperatures.

[JonathanLynn]

The overheating issue at the front of the car is largely due to the grille. Cold air enters through the grille, absorbs engine heat, turns into hot air, and is then pushed by the fan towards the wheel arches on both sides. I've tested it—during summer traffic jams, the air temperature near the cooling fan can reach 70°C. Since the hood's steel sheet conducts heat slowly, all the heat gets trapped around the fender area. This is especially noticeable in German cars because their radiators are often tilted. However, if the hood remains too hot to touch even after parking for ten minutes, it might indicate a stuck thermostat causing poor cooling circulation. This needs immediate repair, or the engine temperature could skyrocket, leading to overheating in no time.