Why Is My Car Overheating?

No one wants to be left wondering, “Why is my car overheating?” as they drive around Beachwood or Cleveland, but what causes a car to overheat, exactly? There’s more than one possible cause, which can make diagnosing engine overheating a little tedious. Here are some of the possible reasons why an engine might overheat:

• Leak in the cooling system 
• Damaged radiator fan
• Broken water pump 
• Clogged coolant hose 
• Oil needs to be changed 

Find out what to do when a car overheats and learn how to diagnose the real issue below. The service team at Mercedes-Benz of Bedford is here to help!

Signs of Engine Overheating

If your engine is overheating, it’s important to try to take steps to prevent total failure. There are signs of engine overheating that, if noticed, can help you avoid engine failure and expensive repairs.

• Steam — not smoke — leaking out of from under the hood.
• The temperature gauge on the dash is spiking to “H” or the red zone. Check your owner’s manual to learn more about how your car’s temp gauge operates.
• Odd smell coming from the engine. If it’s leaking coolant, for example, you’ll notice a sweet smell; leaking engine oil smells like something’s burning.

Schedule a service appointment with our service technicians immediately if you notice any of the overheating car symptoms listed above!

What to Do When a Car Overheats

1. The most important thing to do when a car overheats is to pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so! Driving a car that’s overheating puts you and your passengers at significant risk; it can also lead to irreversible engine damage or problems with other components.
2. If you can’t pull over right away, turn off the AC and run the heat at full blast.
3. When you do pull over, avoid the temptation to pop open the hood immediately and find out what’s wrong.
4. Because the vehicle has been overheating, you’ll need to wait at least 30 minutes if you don’t want to burn yourself.

What Does It Mean When Your Car Overheats?

Under normal circumstances, your cooling system is responsible for keeping your engine’s operating temperature within a certain normal margin–generally between 195 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooling system, which consists of your radiator, water pump, hoses, head gasket, and thermostat housing, is aided in this task by your vehicle’s motor oil. The latter distributes heat while it lubricates your engine.

So, what causes a car to overheat? Here, we’ve highlighted the full range of common issues that can lead to a major issue:

• A leak at any point in your cooling system–from the coolant reservoir to the hoses–can quickly lead to engine overheating. Check your coolant level regularly to catch leaks before they cause damage.
• If you’ve used the wrong coolant, or the wrong mix of antifreeze and water, your engine may start to overheat.
• A blockage in the coolant hose can easily form when dirt and debris get trapped inside. Usually, these issues are easy to fix, but they can cause significant damage if they aren’t caught in time.
• If there’s a problem with your radiator, an overheating vehicle is almost inevitable. Radiators are complex systems, and a blockage, leak, or break could occur in almost any of the components that compose it.
• If your water pump isn’t working, a fully-functional radiator won’t do much to keep your engine cool. This system is responsible for distributing coolant throughout your engine.
• If you’ve forgotten to change your oil for quite some time, the lifeblood of your engine won’t be able to do its job. Critical components may overheat and bind together, leading to permanent damage.

You Can Count on the Mercedes-Benz of Bedford Service Department!

Our service team is here to help, whether your car has just overheated on the roads near Mayfield, or you’ve encountered an issue that can lead to engine overheating down the line. Schedule service or–if you’re stuck on the side of the road–call a towing service that can bring you to our dealership today. We even offer service specials that can help you secure necessary repairs for less.