Car Overheating? Here’s some useful tips.

Is your car overheating and you’re not sure what to do?

If your car is overheating, it’s best not to drive it too far, because that is when the damage will usually occur. Some common causes for your temperature gauge at high could be one of the following:

  • Radiator fans not working or not effective
  • Radiator cap faulty
  • Radiator is blocked
  • Radiator needs to be flushed
  • Coolant/anti freeze mix is too diluted or a poor quality coolant
  • Leaks
  • Faulty sensor
  • Water pump failure

These are some of the most common causes of a car overheating. If your car is overheating, it may seem daunting to have to pay the tow truck driver $90 to transport the car to your local mechanic, but it’s money well spent as it could save you on the head gasket or engine job, which can be around $1000-$7000 these days depending on the car model.

When a service is carried out, mechanics will visually check the hoses on your car. The telltale signs that we look for are:

  • Weeps
  • Leaks
  • Overly softness In hoses
  • Crunchiness when gripping the hose
  • Swelling of the hose
  • Markings if the hose has been rubbing

In most workshops, during a service it is common practice to put a pressure tester on to check the cooling system. What the pressure tester allows us to do is pressurise the cooling system without having to run the engine or get it hot.

It is becoming more common where radiator hoses and heater hoses have plastic fittings and clips making it harder to source generic parts and keep repair costs to a minimum.

Would you like your overheating problem looked at by a qualified mechanic? Call us at Ashmore RWC today on 07 5539 5944.