It is becoming a daily occurrence to see drivers complain about their cars overheating. And it‘s worrisome to see your car always overheat without finding the source of the issue. Here, I will disclose why your car overheats and then go back to normal, and also what might be the cause of these challenges.
What Could Cause My Car to Overheat then Go Back to Normal?
1. A Bad Thermostat
A faulty thermostat has been a significant cause of car overheating. The thermostat is responsible for the control of the car temperature by regulating the flow of hot water to and from the engine. While there is more hot water near the engine, it increases the temperature of your car while less hot water will reduce the temperature of your car.
When the thermostat is faulty or damaged, the regulation can’t continue and the temperature can go as high as possible causing your car to overheat and go back to normal.
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2. Low Coolant Levels
Also, your car could overheat when the coolant level of your car is running low. The coolant is a fluid that runs through the car’s engine to keep it running at optimal temperature. The coolant may run low when there’s a leakage or not being refilled when required.
If your engine suffers from low coolant, your engine will operate at a high temperature causing your car to overheat and go back to normal.
3. A Faulty Radiator
As known, the radiator helps to push the engine’s accumulated heat away. When the radiator is faulty, the engine’s heat will accumulate and cause your car to overheat.
4. Water Pump Failure
The water pump is in charge of circulating the coolant in and around the engine to prevent it from getting too hot. If this pump fails or is faulty, the engine heat will go up without proper coolant circulation and cause your car to overheat.
5. Bad Sensors
From experts, some car overheating problems may not be from the engine. The sensors in charge of recording the engine’s output might be faulty, and therefore, show incorrect information which makes it seem your car engine is overheating while it’s all OK. A bad sensor can cause your car temperature gauge to rise and then fall.
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6. Low Engine Oil Levels
The engine oil lubricant is responsible to lubricate the car’s engine moving parts thereby regulating the engine’s operating temperature. When the oil in the engine is below the required level, it can cause your car to overheat. That’s why it’s necessary to check your car engine oil often before driving out to avoid overheating.
7. Plugged Heater Core
With the heater core, this keeps you warm when driving on cold days. It’s a heat exchanger that controls the coolant flow and can also cause car overheating when plugged. This is significant when there is an uncontrollable rise in the temperature of the car.
How to Fix Car Overheating and Going Back to Normal
1. Fix the Bad Thermostat
If you noticed that your car thermostat is faulty and causes overheating, take your car to a mechanic to have it fixed.
2. Check for Leaking Coolant
When your car overheats, observe your coolant reservoir to make sure it‘s intact. If it has any leakage, take it to the mechanic to get it fixed.
3. Replace the Radiator
If you find out your radiator is the cause of the overheating, then take it to the mechanic to have it changed. It’s very important to have it changed as soon as possible as it’s an important machine of the car as it controls the flow of coolant in the engine.
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4. Do a Vehicle Diagnostic Check
If you have checked everything listed here and still can’t find any fault. Then you will have to run a Vehicle Diagnostic Check to find the fault. This is just like normal overall car check-ups and can help unravel other errors not seen or known.
5. Turn on the Heater
You can stop your car from overheating by turning ON the heater in your car. During the summer period, this is usually observed. So, transferring the heat away from the car to the engine and finding your way to a mechanic or till you get home might stop the overheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does My Car Overheat then Go Back to Normal?
The most frequent cause of car overheating is a faulty thermostat that is not exchanging heat within the engine as needed. Replacing the thermostat will likely solve the overheating.
What Are the Main Causes of a Car Overheating?
Some of the causes might be a malfunctioning thermostat, damaged radiator, low engine oil, and coolant levels, among other things.
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What Are The Symptoms Of a Bad Thermostat?
The most symptoms as complained by drivers are a higher or lower than normal temperature reading, coolant leakage, malfunctioning heaters, and rumbling noises.
Why Is My Car Overheating With No Leaks?
If you have observed every other aspect as mentioned and it’s still overheating without any leak, the cause might be insufficient heat transfer or low coolant.
Why Is My Car Overheating Then Going Back to Normal?
This can be because the amount of coolant required by your engine is not attainable by the coolant supply. Either the coolant supply is low or the thermostat is faulty and not regulating the flow of the coolant.