Top 4 Reasons Your Car is Overheating in Traffic

March 15th, 2022

When your engine is overheating, operating the vehicle becomes a risk. Running the engine beyond a safe operating temperature will likely cause major damage, or could completely destroy the engine itself. Excessive heat can warp and fuse the metal parts of your engine, changing the makeup altogether. If you notice your vehicle is only overheating under certain circumstances, diagnosing the underlying issue can be tricky. Bringing your vehicle into our service pros in a timely manner is key to preventing long-term engine damage. If your vehicle isn't cooling down enough to safely operate, it might be a good idea to call for a tow to bring it in for a technician to check out. We want to save your engine and restore it to reliable performance levels. There are four prominent issues we are most likely to discover with your vehicle if it is overheating in traffic.

REASON #4: YOUR COOLANT LEVEL IS LOW

It's always a good idea to check the coolant in your vehicle when it's overheating. If levels drop low again, that can be a sign that your cooling system has a leak somewhere. Even sitting in traffic at a stoplight can cause the engine to overheat if levels are low enough. Checking the fluid level is easy enough by simply popping the good and checking under the radiator cap. If your coolant level is good it should be nearly at the very top. However, you should never check the coolant when your engine is still hot! The coolant is pressurized and when you remove that cap steam and scalding hot liquid will gush out from the radiator fill port and can badly burn you. Wait at least a half-hour after the vehicle was driven before attempting to check the coolant level.

REASON #3: STUCK THERMOSTAT

Coolant isn't the only factor in keeping your ride cool. If your coolant level is full, but your vehicle is still overheating, there could be a problem with the system itself. Your engine temperature is regulated by a thermostat in the cooling system, adding or stopping the flow of coolant as needed. These devices can become stuck open or closed over time and stop regulating the coolant flow, leading to several problems including overheating in traffic. Our skilled technicians can replace your car thermostat without too much hassle; it's a commonplace repair that's low cost and easy to manage.

REASON #2: BLOCKED RADIATOR

Without proper air flow from the front grille, your radiator cannot do its job and keep the engine cool. Debris like litter and leaves can get trapped in the front grille, hindering the function. Sometimes fixing a problem is as simple as pulling out a plastic bag to clean the grille out, or removing one that got sucked up by your car along the roadway.

REASON #1: YOUR RADIATOR FANS AREN'T WORKING

We can assume that your cooling fans are having an issue if your vehicle is safely cooled down while driving along but temperatures rise when it is sitting still. As you cruise down the road air passes through the front grille and the radiator, helping to drop the temperature as coolant keeps the engine itself cool. Your radiator exchanges heat with the outside air as it passes. Cooling fans engage when your vehicle is stopped to keep air flowing over the radiator. If there's an issue with the cooling fans they won't turn on when your vehicle is stopped and it can overheat until you start driving again. Cooling fan issues can be caused by electrical issues to the fan motors going bad. Our experts will take a look for you and determine if your cooling fans are the underlying issue.