Winter Overheating – Car Engine Service in Lincoln Park12.22.2021 | Okan Sengullu

When the temperature is freezing, you wouldn’t think the heating and cooling system in your vehicle could overheat. That can happen, however, and there are several things that can cause the problem.

1. Low Coolant

Coolant is a vital part of your vehicle’s engine. The engine produces heat through a combination of combustion and friction. This heat is transferred to the coolant circulating through the engine and carried to the radiator. There, air passing through the radiator dissipates the heat, preventing the engine from overheating.

Leaks can occur, however, and if you don’t have enough coolant in the system, engine heat is not transferred to the radiator. The end result is an overheated engine, no matter the outside temperature.

2. Faulty Thermostat

This is a second problem that can lead to an overheated engine. Though it’s a vital component of your engine, the thermostat is a simple device. Basically, it’s a valve located in the cooling system that is opened and closed with a spring, piston or other thermally controlled device.

Its job is to regulate the amount of coolant circulating through the engine and radiator. That keeps the engine operating within an acceptable temperature range, whatever the outside temperature. If the thermostat is faulty and gets stuck, coolant won’t circulate through the engine as it should. The end result is an overheated engine.

3. Faulty Radiator Hose

A faulty, dry-rotted radiator hose can let cold outside air into the cooling system. You might think that cold air is a good thing, but it really isn’t. Ironically, when cold air leaks into the cooling system, it expands when it reaches your warm engine. That expansion can choke the amount of coolant moving through the system, leading to an overheated engine.

Car Cooling System Service in Lincoln Park

So, even when the weather is cold, your engine can still overheat, and professional cooling system maintenance is the best prevention.

At Bucaro Brothers Auto Care in Chicago, IL, we employ only ASE certified technicians, and cooling system maintenance is one of our specialties. Our technicians can check the coolant level and thoroughly inspect the most important parts of your vehicle’s cooling system. These include hoses, the water pump, and cooling fan. They can also perform a complete system flush and any other repair service that’s needed.

We hope you won’t risk serious winter problems by neglecting important repairs and maintenance. Bring your vehicle to Bucaro Brothers and let us winterize your engine’s cooling system and keep it operating smoothly, no matter what Mother Nature throws at us.