Why does my car overheating only sometimes?
A common cause of car overheating is a low-cost thermostat stuck closed, restricting coolant flow. A blown head gasket can be the cause or the result of car overheating issues. Coolant can leak out, air gets sucked in, and the engine temperature needle wraps around to full hot. Plugged heater core.
What would cause a car to overheat when driving but not idling?
Engine overheating can be caused by a number of things such as low coolant levels, a faulty thermostat, or a failing coolant fan switch. When this switch is not working properly, this can cause the fans to come on intermittently, all the time or sometimes not at all.
Why does my car temperature keep going up and down?
When your thermostat is not working properly or is stuck closed, this will not allow the coolant to properly circulate through the engine, which may cause the engine temperature to fluctuate erratically or in some cases just remain hot.
What does it mean when your thermostat goes up and down?
Air in the coolant system If your car thermostat keeps going up and down, then there are chances that the cooling system has trapped air inside it. Some cars have a hard to burp cooling system, which need to be filled appropriately and also burped if there is an air pocket in its system.
Can you drive a car with a faulty thermostat?
If it is failed in a closed position then you cannot really drive it with the thermostat broken, as the engine would overheat. This however will not generally have any impact on the ability to drive the car, at least if you let it warm up before you start driving.
Is it normal for the temp gauge to fluctuate?
A car’s temperature gauge rarely falters with age. Hence a fluctuating gauge is reason for concern, as it points to possible faults elsewhere. One common cause is a defective thermostat, a component that is inexpensive and easy to replace.
How do you know if your car is overheating without gauges?
When the motor is good and hot, turn it off. If you hear bubbling and see coolant being spat out, it’s overheating. If a motor is overheating you’ll notice a drop in power, like it’s getting tight or something. If things smell hot, another good indicator.
Why does my car overheat when idle?
If your car begins to overheat when idling, but the temperature gauge moves back down once you get going, it’s most likely due to a broken radiator fan. However, when your car is sitting still, the radiator fan should kick in, keeping the air moving over the radiator to help cool down the coolant.
What is the best stop leak for a blown head gasket?
The Steel Seal Blown Head Gasket Fix Repair Sealer is our top pick for the best overall permanent head gasket sealer. It works well on older and new vehicles and is suitable for cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks. If your budget is a little tight and you still need a professional-grade sealer, check out the K-Seal ST5516 HD.