One day, you drive your car down the track. Nothing bad seems to happen, when suddenly, a strange smoke comes out of the front of the vehicle. You may be scared of what pilots temperature rise without stopping the car.
Stop the vehicle, get off, open the hood and see the engine of your car to boil like a volcano erupting. What happened? In this article we list the reasons why a car can overheat and how to act in case you happen a scene like the one above.
Refrigeration system
The first thing to know is that any engine has a limit. No matter what fuel you use or the manufacturing model of the vehicle, this may, at some point, cease to function optimally, resulting in what is colloquially known as engine overheating
Engine overheating is mainly caused by two reasons: damage to various components of the cooling system of the vehicle or problems with the engine lubrication system.
The cooling system exists precisely to maintain balance in the temperature levels in the engine (which essentially depends on the engine design, but generally should be between 80 and 100 ° C).
Only between 20 and 30 percent of the energy released by the fuel during the time of explosion in a motor is converted into useful energy, the other 70 or 80 percent is almost lost as heat. The inner walls of the cylinder or sleeve of a motor can reach temperatures approximate to 800 ° C. Therefore, all engines require a cooling system to help dissipate this excess heat.
How does the cooling system work?
A motor can be cooled with water or air (depending on whether a truck or motorcycle). When operating by air cooling, the motor consists of fins for dissipating the heat from the engine is discharged and thus its temperature is decreased. Motorbikes are the main vehicles that use this type of cooling, in addition to the boats (outboard).
Water or coolants are the elements that are used to control the temperature of an engine and perform that function through a complex system comprised of the following elements:
- Radiator: E l radiator is a device that connects to the engine and has the function of heat sink. Engine pumped liquid, typically a mixture of water with alcohols with a high capacity to absorb heat. The idea is that the fluid flow through the engine, absorbing the heat, and then going to the radiator, so that there is cool. A leak in it can lead to engine overheating.
- Hoses: They are responsible for transporting water or coolant in and out of the motor in order to cool it. Their breakage or poor are the most common causes of a car’s temperature rises disproportionately.
- Water Pump: Its purpose is to maintain the necessary circulation of the coolant. The life of this element is very long and can only be damaged when the fluid reservoirs are left without this element.
- Jar of deposit: Typical failure this element loses its ability to seal lid, making there the liquid from escaping.
- Thermostat: If this valve, which was responsible for allowing the passage of the coolant to the engine to absorb heat generated in this, fails, can result in several incidents: to not open and close properly, there may be an increase in fuel consumption and overheating of the system.
- Fan motor: Without a good job of this, the radiator cannot get enough air to reduce the temperature of coolant stored there.
Impact
If the motor is running above its optimum temperature, it can decrease the oil viscosity, increase engine wear, and cause the pieces to be welded by increasing the temperature.
Conversely, if the motor runs below its optimum temperature, fuel consumption is increased because the engine requires a specific temperature necessary for its proper functioning. Also engine parts can wear out prematurely, as these are designed to expand by heat to a certain size. In addition, power is reduced by not having the right conditions for proper combustion.
Any damage to these components can lead to overheating of the vehicle. So it is important that you follow these guidelines to prevent further damage to the engine and its various components (from breakage and damage to the parts to total engine failure).
- Periodically check the condition of the belts, coolant leaks and patches or spots of hose coupling to the engine as they may be signs of rust (sign that the liquid is filtered at this point).
- Check that the fan is activated when the car is turned on.
- If smoke, stop the vehicle; open the jar coolant reservoir as you can be burned. Check carefully where if the leak is and call a specialist right away.
- It is advisable to add water or coolant to the reservoir when hot, because at that time there is pressure on this element can burn. Never move the car when the vehicle presents failures on cooling side.
- Remain long with the vehicle running and stopped it can cause overheating of the engine. If you go into a traffic jam and you stay in it for long, it is best to turn off the car.