If you see the temperature gauge inching up, you may be asking, why is my Toyota overheating? At Toy Car Care in Centennial, Colorado, we can give you all the answers, as well as get you back on the road. Overheating happens when the engine temperature gets too high, to the point that damage can occur, usually at around the 240-degree mark. If you notice steam coming from under the hood, a temperature gauge climbing, and red indicator lights illuminating, you most certainly have a problem.
What to do? Pull the vehicle over and let the engine cool down. Don’t take chances with your Toyota overheating. At this point, damage to the vehicle’s engine could be as severe as a complete overhaul, which is extremely expensive. With your car still running, pay attention to the gauge to see if it starts to go down, you can turn your heater blower on, this lets the heater core act as a second radiator by removing more heat from the coolant. If the temperature continues to climb, kill the engine. Shut it off immediately as it is most likely a coolant issue.
Every vehicle out there has a way to cool the engine down. Years ago, this was done just by air passing over it. However, now that cars are much more complicated, the cooling systems are now liquid cooled with antifreeze and sent through a radiator to dissipate the heat away from the engine.
What would cause your engine to overheat?
- A leak in the cooling system is one reason, but it won’t actually overheat the engine. The real issue is air entering the cooling system from the leak which causes an airlock. The air bubble cannot be pushed through the cooling system, so the coolant ends up heating up because it stops circulating.
- A blockage is an indirect cause related to the non-circulating coolant. If the coolant can’t reach the radiator to disperse heat, you have an overheating issue. Some causes of this would be a thermostat that won’t open when it should, mineral deposit blocking the radiator or a foreign object inside the radiator.
- A failed water pump is a common occurrence for a Toyota overheating, usually due to a bearing or impeller inside the pump wearing out.
- If your coolant isn’t concentrated enough, such as in cold weather where it can gel up, it will not perform as it should. This can cause a lot of damage and the need for radiator repairs.
Here are some repairs you can expect to perform if your vehicle overheats:
- Water pump replacement
- Radiator repair or replacement
- Flushing the antifreeze
- Thermostat repair or replacement
- Oil change or top up
- Coolant hose replacement
Avoiding Toyota overheating issues is always your best defense. Be sure to have the cooling system flushed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, get a certified technician to repair coolant leaks immediately, have your engine oil changed at the right intervals, and most importantly, pay attention to your temperature gauge when driving to avoid extreme cases of overheating.
Don’t get caught asking yourself, why is m Toyota overheating? Visit the experts at Toy Car Care for service and maintenance issues for all your vehicle needs. Our shop has large, clean bays, quality products, and parts, and certified mechanics to keep your engines running in top condition. Call today!