Automobile Engine Cooling Problems

A cooling system passes a liquid coolant from the radiator through the engine block. It then returns the heated liquid to the radiator where it loses heat through the atmosphere. The fan blows air through the radiator enabling the cooling process. The liquid coolant may be water or a combination of water and antifreeze. When the system fails to operate properly, an engine will overheat, which can damage other vital processes of your car. It is crucial to deal with automobile engine cooling issues as soon as possible.

Bad Gasket Head

A faulty gasket is a common cause of an internal coolant leak. The head gasket may leak fluid into a cylinder or crankcase, diluting the oil and damaging the bearings in your engine. This leak can contaminate the spark plugs, resulting in white smoke coming from your exhaust pipe. Testing to determine if you have a serious leak entails checking the cooling system pressure. If the pressure is low, the leak exists. Adding sealer to the cooling system may provide temporary relief, but eventually the head gasket will need replacing. Causes of head gasket damage include an overheating engine. The thermal expansion that occurs during overheating can compress and damage portions of the gasket, causing the leak.

Radiator Leak

Radiators develop leaks around the upper and lower hose connections in response to engine vibration. End tanks are another site that may generate a leak. For aluminum radiators, this leak will appear where the core mates to the end tanks. With a copper radiator, the solder will break away from the core. Old coolant will eat through metal portions of a radiator, causing a small hole that leaks coolant. Symptoms of a radiator leak are easy to spot. Fluid will drip from under the car and pool as the car sits. The engine may overheat frequently, even after refilling the radiator.

Bad Water Pump

The water pump is responsible for shooting coolant through your car's system. Water pumps typically fail if the shaft seal starts to bleed or the impeller breaks. The seal of the water pump prevents coolant from leaking past the bearing. Seals will wear over time from rust or contaminants that circulate through the system. The standard water pump will last through 100,000 miles or more. Systems of an inadequate water pump include a pump shaft that shows visible wobble, noise coming from the bearings, coolant leakage and an overheating engine.