The engine is one the main components of the car; temperature plays a crucial role in maintaining the optimal working of your engine. The burning of fuel within the combustion chamber causes increased heat that needs to be cooled in an instant.
The cooling system of your car prevents the engine from getting heated to dangerous levels. It is composed of a number of parts which prevent your engine from heating up.
The engine overheating problem is common in summer because of the influence of outside temperature. However, if you are facing the problem of engine overheating during winter, then there might be some underlying problems.
How Does The Engine Cooling System Work?
The simple principle behind the cooling system is that it transfers the engine heat to the outside environment. In most cases, the cooling system transfers the engine heat to the coolant. There are various components involved in the cooling system.
Radiator
A radiator works as a heat exchanger inside the car. A radiator is placed on the front of the vehicle and transfers heat from the vehicle’s coolant through it toward the outside environment,
The radiators are made of aluminum or steel. They have thin and flat fins connected in a parallel manner. The radiator is filled with a radiator, which flows through the engine chambers when it is hot.
Coolant
Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is the fluid used to regulate the engine’s temperature. Coolant is called antifreeze because it prevents the fluid from getting frozen in the radiator.
Ethylene glycol and water are mixed together as coolant. The radiator is then filled with a coolant that flows through the engine chambers for absorption of heat from engine blocks.
During the cooling conditions, the fluid in the radiator might get thicker, thus preventing quick transfer of the engine heat to the radiator.
Water Pump
The coolant doesn’t move towards the engine block and back to the radiator on is own. The coolant completes its cycle through the water pump. The water pump is located under the timing belt and is driven by it.
The pulley and belt rotate the pump’s blades, and the coolant starts to flow due to centrifugal force.
Common Causes of Engine Overheating During Winters
Reduced Radiator Efficiency
Many vehicle owners find cold weather in combination with reduced radiator efficiency confusing. Engines take a while to heat up to the required temperature in colder temperatures.
The current generation of cars is created to work in particular temperature zones; therefore, during the cold season, it could take time for an engine to start. It will operate less efficiently because the engine will still not have reached the optimum operating temperatures until it does. Additionally, the radiator may not dissipate heat properly.
In cold weather, the coolant in the radiator can become thicker, which prevents the heat of the engine from being transferred quickly to the radiator.
You should, therefore, always mix coolant and water at a 50/50 ratio to avoid freezing in a radiator and subsequent damage. Additionally, you always need to purchase premium quality coolant that is exclusively available in authentic auto repair shops in Houston, Texas.
Thermostat Issues
The thermostat is an important component in your car that regulates the flow of coolant through the engine and to the radiator. Thermostat problems are usually an additional factor in winter engine overheating cases.
A frequent problem with thermostats is when they stick in the open position. During normal operation, the thermostat will be closed once the engine coolant is in its cold state.
The coolant will continue to circulate continuously, and the engine will never get warm enough to deliver optimal performance.
However, if the thermostat does not open or it is faulty, the engine will heat up. When the engine gets too hot, the thermostat will stop further flow of the coolant through the engine chambers. That may turn out to be a catastrophe as the engine overheats itself permanently.
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Radiator Fan Not Working
After some time of driving especially when traveling on a road trip, the engine can become blazing hot. When such incidences occur, the cooling system automatically directs the hot coolant through the radiator fan for quick cooling so that it is again recycled into the engine.
Yet, there are certain problems, including the breakdown of the electrical wiring that may prevent the radiator fan from operating effectively and the failure of the car engine to cool down normally.