5 Common Symptoms of Engine Overheating
Below are the top 5 symptoms of an overheated engine. If you notice at least a few of these symptoms present in your vehicle, then you should act fast and resolve the issue before it is too late.
#1 – Temperature Gauge is Red
Your vehicle should have a temperature gauge on the dashboard. This gauge is supposed to tell you the temperature of the engine.
In normal situations, the needle of the gauge will be in the black area. This indicates a normal temperature (a transmission temp gauge will be similar). But if the needle is in the red area, this indicates that you have an overheated engine.
#2 – Steaming Hood
As the engine gets hotter, steam will emit from the hood of your car. If you have a faulty radiator and the coolant isn’t able to cool down, then it will start to boil. This boiling coolant will cause steam to come out of it.
#3 – Temperature Light
A lot of people don’t pay attention to their temperature gauge unless something motivates them to do so. That is why your temperature light will illuminate on the dashboard whenever your engine is starting to overheat.
You can then verify this problem by simply looking at your temperature gauge. If the needle is close to red, then you have your confirmation of the problem.
#4 – Burning Smell
An engine contains many components made of different materials, such as metal, rubber, and plastic. Once the engine overheat, all these materials will burn. In addition, they will emit a very distinct burning odor that can be smelled throughout the entire passenger cabin. The oil will also burn and create a smell too.
#5 – Poor Engine Performance
An overheated engine will not be able to function properly on the road. If you try to demand more power from an overheated engine, you won’t get it. The acceleration will be weak at best, and all the other symptoms listed above will be present.