Why is the car heater not very hot?
2 Answers
The reasons why the car heater is not very hot are: 1. The thermostat is always open or opens too early, causing the cooling system to start the large circulation prematurely. When the external temperature is very low, especially when the car is moving, the cold wind quickly cools the antifreeze, preventing the engine water temperature from rising; 2. The water pump impeller is damaged or slips, resulting in insufficient flow through the heater core, and the heat cannot rise; 3. There is airlock in the engine cooling system, which leads to poor circulation of the cooling system, causing high water temperature and the heater not being hot. If there is always air in the cooling system, it is due to the cylinder gasket being damaged and allowing air into the cooling system. If the inlet pipe of the heater core is very hot while the outlet pipe is relatively cool, this indicates that the heater core is clogged and needs to be replaced.
I remember last winter the heater in my car was never warm enough, the air blowing out was always chilly, which was really uncomfortable. Later, it turned out the coolant level was too low. The heating system relies on heat transfer from the engine, and if there's insufficient coolant, the heat can't be transferred, resulting in cold air. Another possibility could be a clogged heater core. This component inside the car tends to accumulate deposits, and when blocked, hot air can't pass through. It might also be a faulty thermostat that's preventing the water temperature from rising to the required level. Or, the heater fan could be malfunctioning, blowing air that's not warm. When facing such issues, I first check the coolant level myself and try adding some if needed. But if that doesn't work, it's best to take it to a professional repair shop to avoid driving with poor visibility on cold nights, which can be quite dangerous.
