What Does It Mean When Your Car Overheats?

While the temperature of your vehicle may fluctuate between 195 and 200 degrees, a hot engine can be a major cause for concern. So what does it mean when your car overheats around Baytown? It could be a number of different things: cooling system leaks, radiator trouble, or something else. Before we dive into what causes a car to overheat, keep in mind that you should not drive an overheating vehicle. It can cause problems for your vehicle, but also put your own safety at risk. Contact our service department to see what steps they recommend.

Reasons a Car Would Overheat

While there are many reasons a car would overheat, here are the most common issues that you’re likely to see:

• Leaking Cooling System: This is the single most common reason for an overheating engine. Your cooling system is made of a radiator, hoses, water pump, head gasket, and thermostat housing – any of which can cause overheating when malfunctioning.
• Coolant Hose Blockage: Dirt and debris can build up within the coolant hose and cause problems, even if your cooling system is working properly.
• Improper Coolant Mixture: Whether you’ve used the wrong water-to-coolant ratio or the wrong type of coolant completely, an improper coolant mixture can cause problems.
• Radiator Issues: Blockages and leaks in your radiator can cause major issues immediately, so don’t put off that trip to the shop.
• Broken Water Pump: If your water pump is damaged, it may fail to deliver coolant where it’s needed – causing rapid overheating to occur.

What to Do When a Car Overheats

So you’re looking for restaurants in Baytown and notice the temperature rising. You think “Why is my car overheating?” while you’re still miles and miles from home in La Porte. What do you do?

• Don’t panic and don’t try to fix the issue yourself.
• Pull over and turn your car off. Do not pop the hood or you may get burned!
• Call a towing service or dealership to start planning your next steps.

Get Expert Car Care at Baytown Nissan

If you’re in the Liberty with car troubles, don’t hesitate to reach out to Baytown Nissan. We’re located in Baytown and we’re happy to help with sales, service, parts, and more. Contact us at any time about everything from when to change your engine air filter, to car battery life, to Nissan Altima trim levels, to Nissan CPO models, to GAP insurance coverage, and more!