Three Signs Of An Overheating Engine

The engine is the core of your vehicle: without it, your car would not be able to move or function. This means that any sort of malfunction or issue with the engine can be quite serious. One of the most common problems that can afflict an engine is overheating, which can be caused by a variety of different factors. Understanding some of the signs associated with an overheating engine can help you spot the issue early and have it addressed by a professional mechanic before it can cause other complications for your vehicle.

Engine Ticking

If you can hear a regular ticking sound coming from your engine while driving, this likely means that you have an inadequate amount of engine oil in the system. This can quickly cause your engine to overheat since oil acts as a lubricant for the moving parts of your engine. Without enough oil, your engine can suffer from excessive friction. Not only can this cause a great deal of heat production, but it can also increase the risk of your engine suffering from mechanical damage and wear, which can be much more expensive to fix than a simple oil change.

Coolant Leaks

Another sign that your engine may be at risk of overheating is if you spot leaks underneath your vehicle. Fluid leaks can be from all sorts of systems under the hood, but if you blot the leak up and it takes on a blue or green shade, that leak is from your engine's coolant system. Usually, coolant leaks occur because of a damaged hose or seal, which is a fairly simple fix, but driving without engine coolant can quickly cause your system to overheat and function inefficiently as a result, so you should head to a mechanic straight away.

Reduced Performance

As already mentioned, an engine that has begun to overheat will also begin to work inefficiently. This will manifest itself in two main ways. Firstly, your engine will become less responsive and produce less power, which means that you may find yourself accelerating at a slower speed and struggling to maintain higher speeds while driving. Secondly, since your engine is operating at a higher temperature than it normally would be, it will also consume gas at an increased rate, causing your fuel efficiency to crater. This means that having a mechanic from a repair shop like H & S Tire & Auto Center inspect your engine is a financially sound decision since constantly filling up the gas tank due to reduced fuel efficiency will quickly add up.


Share