 | Wes Grimes is President and Owner of The Tire Store at 1458 S. Broadway. The Tire Store specializes in tires, wheels and accessories, as well as service, for all types of vehicles. Wes’s father, Dennis, opened The Tire Store in 1977. Wes began working for his father sweeping floors and stocking merchandise in 1987. Later he became shop foreman and in charge of outside sales. He purchased the store from his father in May of 2000. Wes’s hobbies include water-skiing, snow-skiing, mountain biking, horse-back riding, camping, fishing, traveling, and being outdoors in the mountains or at a quiet lakeside getaway. You may contact Wes at the store at 267-4381 or by e-mail at wes@tirestoreinc.kscoxmail.com |
Cars, Trucks, Vans & Automotive
2002-09-01 09:13:00
What causes overheating?
: My engine overheated. What caused this and what do I do about it?
Wes Grimes
Question: My engine overheated. What caused this and what do I do about it?Answer: Overheating is caused by anything that leads to a loss of coolant, prevents the cooling system from getting rid of heat, or causes excess heat in the engine itself: -Coolant leaks (water pump, radiator, heater core, hoses, freeze plugs, head gasket, engine internal). -Weak radiator cap (does not hold rated pressure and allows coolant to boil over). Pressure test the cap to check it out. -Cooling system clogged (deposits built up in radiator or in engine due to maintenance neglect or use of hard water). Use a cleaner, then reverse flush the system to clean it out. A badly-clogged radiator may need to be rodded out or replaced. -Thermostat stuck shut. Replace the thermostat. -Inoperative electric cooling fan. Check fan motor, relay and temperature switch for correct operation. -Bad fan clutch. Replace if it is slipping, leaking, or loose. -Missing fan shroud (reduces cooling efficiency of fan). -Slipping fan belt. Tighten or replace the belt. -Too low or too high a concentration of antifreeze. It should be a 50/50 mix with clean water for best cooling. -Bad water pump (impeller eroded or loose). Replace pump. -Collapsed radiator hose. Check the lower hose. -Debris in the radiator. Remove bugs and dirt. -Late ignition timing. Reset to vehicle specs. -Restricted exhaust system. Check intake vacuum readings and inspect converter, muffler, and pipes. -Radiator and/or fan undersized for application. Increase cooling power by installing larger radiator and/or auxiliary cooling fan.
