Chronic Vehicle Overheating - Does Your Engine Rad Run Hot?
Some vehicle owners and drivers seem to have a chronic ongoing problem with their vehicles and vehicles in that they chronically overheat.
It may be worse in the summertime or it may affect the car, truck or sport utility vehicle when it is carrying a heavy load - such as a travel trailer or boat.
This problem is one of chronic overheating - that is the engine overheats.
The red temperature light may come on chronically, the engine temp light may be permanently over to the right hand side or it may be worse in that the rad either needs coolant and antifreeze fluid replenishment all the time or worse yet the rad "boils over".
Some of the time the problem is dealt with simply by pulling over to the side of the road to let the engine "cool off" or "cool down".
Other times it is seasonal or vacation trailer towing time related and the driver or automobile owner forgets about the problem till next summer or its next re occurrence.
Regardless it is not a good thing for your engine for its motor long term health, repair costs or transportation reliability.
What can be done concerning problems of chronic engine overheating? One simple less costly answer is to remove the rad and cooling system's thermostat during the summer time period.
It is safe.
Simply put the thermostat impedes water flow when the engine is cold, to allow for faster warm and heating of cold engines.
The cooling systems thermostat is in closed position when cool and opens up to allow for cooling system water circulation when warmed up.
The engine will not "blow up" if the cooling system thermostat is removed.
You and your passengers are in no danger what so ever.
The only problem will be that come wintertime you should have your mechanic place the thermostat back in.
Otherwise your radiator fluid and engine will run cold and you will little heat output blowing out of your interior car heater.
Your heater and defroster will only blow cold air.
That might not be safe for driving in cold or moist foggy weather.
Next and more of a major, yet not a stop gap temporary repair to solve overheating is to consider replacement and upgrade of your radiator with one of a larger and greater cooling capacity and capacities.
Another option is to consider installing separate cooling devices where the transmission occurs.
Its fairly standard and transmission shops stock and install towing "transmission coolers".
These are devices sold to cool transmissions systems under load - especially vehicles cars, trucks and SUVs that are employed to tow heavier trailers or trailers up or down steeper mountain grades.
A transmission cooler or upgrading on purchase of your next new vehicle with a trailer towing package might be the answer to problems of overheating if it is a regular occurrence and concern with vehicle that you purchase or use.
These two procedures - of either removing the engine cooling system thermostat or upgrading rad or adding a transmission cooler or towing package should solve or deal with most issues and problems related to chronic vehicle overheating.
It may be worse in the summertime or it may affect the car, truck or sport utility vehicle when it is carrying a heavy load - such as a travel trailer or boat.
This problem is one of chronic overheating - that is the engine overheats.
The red temperature light may come on chronically, the engine temp light may be permanently over to the right hand side or it may be worse in that the rad either needs coolant and antifreeze fluid replenishment all the time or worse yet the rad "boils over".
Some of the time the problem is dealt with simply by pulling over to the side of the road to let the engine "cool off" or "cool down".
Other times it is seasonal or vacation trailer towing time related and the driver or automobile owner forgets about the problem till next summer or its next re occurrence.
Regardless it is not a good thing for your engine for its motor long term health, repair costs or transportation reliability.
What can be done concerning problems of chronic engine overheating? One simple less costly answer is to remove the rad and cooling system's thermostat during the summer time period.
It is safe.
Simply put the thermostat impedes water flow when the engine is cold, to allow for faster warm and heating of cold engines.
The cooling systems thermostat is in closed position when cool and opens up to allow for cooling system water circulation when warmed up.
The engine will not "blow up" if the cooling system thermostat is removed.
You and your passengers are in no danger what so ever.
The only problem will be that come wintertime you should have your mechanic place the thermostat back in.
Otherwise your radiator fluid and engine will run cold and you will little heat output blowing out of your interior car heater.
Your heater and defroster will only blow cold air.
That might not be safe for driving in cold or moist foggy weather.
Next and more of a major, yet not a stop gap temporary repair to solve overheating is to consider replacement and upgrade of your radiator with one of a larger and greater cooling capacity and capacities.
Another option is to consider installing separate cooling devices where the transmission occurs.
Its fairly standard and transmission shops stock and install towing "transmission coolers".
These are devices sold to cool transmissions systems under load - especially vehicles cars, trucks and SUVs that are employed to tow heavier trailers or trailers up or down steeper mountain grades.
A transmission cooler or upgrading on purchase of your next new vehicle with a trailer towing package might be the answer to problems of overheating if it is a regular occurrence and concern with vehicle that you purchase or use.
These two procedures - of either removing the engine cooling system thermostat or upgrading rad or adding a transmission cooler or towing package should solve or deal with most issues and problems related to chronic vehicle overheating.
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