The car engine produces power in the form of rotation obtained from the combustion process. Combustion on this engine will definitely cause heat or latent around the area where combustion occurs. If the heat is allowed, it has the potential to cause overheating, but this heat cannot be recovered from the way the engine works because the engine is a combustion motor that produces heat. For this reason, in a car or motorbike, it must be equipped with a cooling system that functions to cool the engine when it experiences an excessive temperature.
However, even though it is equipped with a cooling system, there are still machines that experience overheating or overheating. What is the cause of this problem? And how to deal with overheating? Check out the article below,
What is Overheating?
Over heating is a term to describe the condition of an engine that has too high a temperature. Overheating comes from the two words over which means excessive and heat which means heat. The condition of an overheated machine is usually difficult to detect if you don’t use tools. To find out the engine temperature, each car is generally equipped with an engine temperature gauge located on the dashboard or multi-information display of the vehicle. This gauge will show the engine temperature in real time, so that we can detect whether the engine is cold, normal or overheated.
In a car engine that uses a combustion motor, heat is inseparable from the engine’s work cycle. This heat will determine the energy output produced by the engine. But if the heat in the engine is too high it will also cause damage to engine components. The result of the engine overheating is;
• The cab temperature has increased. For some cases of overheating, it can cause the car cabin to feel hot.
• The sound is harsher. When the engine overheats but is forced, the engine sound will become louder. This sound is indeed difficult to detect from inside the cabin because many cars carry soundproof cabins.
• Machine Jams or Clocking. Clocking state or when the machine is locked will be present when the machine is overheating for a long time. Clocking is indicated by a jammed engine and cannot be started.
• There is smoke. Smoke can occur when the temperature of the cooling water is above the boiling point of the water. Apart from water, oil that is exposed to heat will also cause smoke to appear.
Causes of Car Engine Overheating
Of course, some of the results of the engine overheating above will really disturb us as vehicle users. Overheating can happen to any type of car, new or old. Some of the things that cause the engine to overheat are;
1. Less cooling water volume.
The first cause that makes the engine overheating is the lack of volume of cooling water or coolant. Cooling water serves as an intermediary that will transfer heat from the engine to the outside air. So that it can be ascertained that if this intermediary is lacking, then heat transfer is also problematic. Cooling water can be reduced, especially in machines that use an open type cooling system. Water will come out in the form of steam through the vent tube of the radiator cap.
2. The cooling fan has turned off.
Another cause that can result in engine overheating is the problem of the cooling fan or engine cooling fan. Currently the cooling fan is driven electrically. This means that the fan rotation is no longer obtained from the engine, but electrical energy from the battery. For more information about electric fans, you can read how the electric cooling fan works.
When there is a problem in the fan circuit, it can cause dysfunction of the electric fan. As a result, the cooling water in the radiator cannot be cooled. So that it can lead to overheating. This fan symptom also affects the hot air conditioning system.
3. There is a leak in the engine cooling system.
The next overheating problem can also be caused by a leaky engine cooling system (Leakage). This leak can immediately drain the coolant water in the cooling system. As a result there is no intermediary to transfer the engine heat to the radiator.
Leaks can happen anywhere. Areas that are prone to coolant leakage are any joints or fittings that are attached via an iron clamp. The radiator hose also has the potential to leak if it is rinsed and there are indentations.
4. Engine oil volume is reduced.
Apart from being an engine lubricant, oil also functions to cool the engine. When the volume of engine oil decreases, the lubrication system is unable to lubricate all parts of the engine. When the piston rings and cylinders rub together without sufficient oil lubrication, it will cause friction which generates heat. This was the beginning of engine clocking.
5. Faulty cooling water pump.
The water pump in the cooling system functions to circulate coolant or coolant from the engine to the radiator and back to all parts of the engine. When the pump is unable to perform its job, water flow will not occur. So that the water in the cooled radiator does not flow into the engine. And conversely, the water in a hot engine also doesn’t flow to the radiator.
6. The belt drive is cut off.
Finally, overheating can also be caused by a cut drive belt or V – belt. Generally, the water pump is still driven by the engine via the belt drive. And some types of engines such as diesel engines still use a conventional fan driven by a V-belt engine. When the V – belt is cut, you can imagine what will happen. It’s not only the charging system that will shut down, but the cooling system as well. So that it can cause engine overheating.
How to deal with overheating in a car engine
If you experience an incident where the engine temperature is red or hot, don’t panic. Do some of the following tips to overcome engine overheating;
1. Stop the car in a safe area. And turn off the car engine.
2. Open the hood and let the engine temperature decrease. When the engine temperature is still high, don’t open the reservoir cap or radiator cap, because there is pressure in the cooling system that is ready to come out. Do not also cool the engine with the help of sprinkling water. This can cause engine components to crack.
3. While waiting for the engine temperature to drop, visually inspect for any signs of cooling system leaks. Also check the condition of the V – belt whether it is disconnected or still connected.
4. If there is a problem related to the two things above, immediately call the storing service. Because it will be at risk when the car is forced to run. If there are no problems continue until the engine temperature cools down.
5. When the engine temperature is a little cold (you can see the indicator on the dashboard) check the volume of the radiator water by carefully opening the radiator or reservoir cap. Use gloves or a cloth to cover the lid so that it doesn’t come into contact with your hands.
6. Make sure when opening the radiator cap, do not open it completely. Open slowly until the pressure in the cooling system runs out.
7. If the cooling water volume condition decreases, fill with plain water or mineral water. Fill sufficiently not to exceed the maximum limit marked. However, if the water condition is still sufficient, it means that the problem is not with the cooling water.
8. Check the engine oil volume. Make sure it’s at sufficient volume. If it is not enough, fill it with the appropriate engine oil.
9. Finally, turn on the engine while turning on the AC system. Pay attention to the performance of the cooling fan, if the fan isn’t spinning then that’s the problem. Check the fuseblock on the fuseblock, if it is still connected, the cooling fan is damaged.
When the cooling fan is turned off, you can still continue the trip provided you don’t drive the vehicle too aggressively while paying attention to the engine temperature indicator. Cooling still takes place from the airflow that passes through the grill when the car is driving.
10. If the cooling fan is still on, the damage lies in the water pump which is unable to make the coolant circulate.