What causes coolant temp to fluctuate?

One common cause is a defective thermostat, a component that is inexpensive and easy to replace. Other causes of a fluctuating temperature gauge are a failing radiator fan, insufficient coolant level and a leaking cylinder head gasket. A failing radiator fan will be erratic.

Why does my car only overheat sometimes?

A common cause of car overheating is a low-cost thermostat stuck closed, restricting coolant flow. Low engine coolant level. An engine coolant leak internally or externally reduces the level in the system, preventing proper cooling. A blown head gasket can be the cause or the result of car overheating issues.

Can the wrong coolant cause overheating?

There’s a problem with your coolant – If the wrong coolant was put in your car, or you have an improper coolant-to-water ratio (50/50 is proper), your engine may be prone to overheating.

What causes high coolant temperature?

Why Do Engines Overheat? Engines can overheat for many reasons. In general, it’s because something’s wrong within the cooling system and heat isn’t able to escape the engine compartment. The source of the issue could include a cooling system leak, faulty radiator fan, broken water pump, or clogged coolant hose.

Why is my car overheating even though it has coolant?

Overworked engine Assuming your cooling system is working properly meaning it’s full of clean coolant and doesn’t have any damaged or clogged components, then it’s possible your cooling system just needs a little help to keep things at the right temperature.

How much should coolant rise when engine is hot?

Coolant can rise as much as one inch as the engine warms up. Start your engine with the radiator cap removed and coolant one inch below the neck. Then, observe as the engine warms. Allow time for the thermostat to open and for the engine to burp any stray air pockets.

What happens when your car cooling system goes bad?

If your vehicle’s cooling system is faulty it will overheat and cause serious damage to your engine. Overheating engines can lead to cylinder heads to warp, your engine to seize, cylinder head gasket failure, or your engine block to crack. These are all extremely expensive repairs and you should avoid driving your vehicle at all costs.

What happens if you don’t put coolant in the radiator?

When coolant never has a chance to give up heat via the radiator, it gets hotter and hotter, especially if you’re stuck in traffic. And even on the open road, coolant never has a chance to park in the radiator long enough to give up heat energy to the atmosphere.