As your Chevy dealer in Sallisaw, OK, we’d like to give some advice on possible causes for your car overheating. Your Chevy has an excellent cooling system to control the heat produced by your engine. The cooling system is subject to constant pressure and heat, which makes regular engine checkups essential to keep the system running perfectly. These are signs that your engine could overheat.
Coolant Leak
Your engine depends on a constant flow of coolant to control its temperature. Liquid coolant is pumped through your engine and absorbs heat. The hot coolant is transported to the radiator, where the heat is removed and the coolant is recirculated. This cycle continues so long as your engine temperature is above a pre-set level.
Coolant can leak from several different places, including a cracked radiator, damaged hoses, and worn seals. If a coolant leak continues, your engine temperature will rise, and your engine can overheat. Our technicians are experts at tracing a leak, and we will find and fix the problem. Once the leak is repaired, we’ll refill your coolant, and the engine temperature will return to normal.
Cracked Radiator
In your radiator, hot coolant is cooled by air flowing over the radiator tubes. The radiator is made from aluminum and plastic, which makes it light but very efficient at cooling. It’s designed to handle coolant that can easily be hotter than 280F when it enters the system. In time, however, this heat level and the high pressure in the system can cause damage to the radiator.
We routinely check your radiator during your Chevy’s scheduled services. These checks test the system for leaks and possible wear. If your radiator hasn’t been checked for a while, cracks can develop and allow coolant to escape. Our technicians can test your radiator for possible leaks by pressure testing it. If we find a problem, we can repair it or replace the radiator depending on the situation.
Broken Water Pump
The water pump is responsible for pumping the coolant through the system at high speed. When your engine temperature reaches a pre-set point, coolant is released and pumped through your engine. When your engine temperature falls below the pre-set point coolant is withdrawn until the cycle starts again.
If the pump wears out or suffers damage, it won’t pump coolant through your engine. Without the continual removal of heat by the coolant, your engine temperature will rapidly climb. We can test your water pump and install a new one if it’s failed.
You’ll always see signs that your engine is getting too hot, and we can fix the problem to prevent engine damage. Call us at Blue Ribbon Chevrolet.
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