Is Your Engine Overheating? Here Are 5 Telltale Signs
Photo by Gustavo Fring under Pexels License
Catch Those Signs Quickly Before They Put You in Big Trouble!
Even with diligent care and maintenance, your car may overheat. You may then experience complicated issues as a result, especially if you fail to address the problem right away.
Engine overheating damage may vary depending on how high the temperature gets. For instance, if it rises to 20 to 40 degrees above the normal engine temperature, you could experience an engine knock, which could crack a piston or shatter a piston ring if you continue to run the engine. Driving with an engine that’s 40 to 80 degrees hotter could damage the bearings and the engine’s interior.
When your engine overheats, expect an expensive trip to the repair shop if you don’t act on it swiftly.
The good news is that warning signs will alert you that your engine is in trouble before it overheats. Catching those signs quickly can save you from the headaches of facing costly major engine repairs.
That being said, Goodwill Car Donations points out the following early signs of an overheating engine:
- Strange engine smells
You’ll notice a distinctive odor when your engine heats up enough to start burning oil. It can be any of these three:
Burning oil: As your engine oil begins to burn, you’ll most likely smell a sulfur-like odor.
Burning plastic: Vulnerable engine components like rubber seals and plastic valves may melt when your engine overheats, thus emitting the smell of burning plastic.
Sweet: The radiator fluid’s coolant is ethylene glycol, which is molecularly similar to the sugar compound. As such, you may smell something that resembles maple syrup or butterscotch if the coolant burns.
- Temperature gauge
Most cars today come with a warning light or temperature gauge that shows how hot your engine is. You’ll know your engine is heating excessively if the gauge indicates that the temperature is approaching the maximum level or if the dashboard warning light flashes on. However, since this light functions by measuring the coolant’s temperature, it won’t be able to measure anything in case the coolant leaks.
- Coolant on the ground
A puddle of coolant under your parked car is a good indicator of engine overheating. This either tells you that there’s a leak somewhere in your cooling system that caused the engine to run hot, or that the coolant has boiled and has been relieved by the coolant overflow tank.
- Clanking or clicking noise
An overheating engine will cause oil to lose its lubrication properties. In such cases, you might hear a clicking or clanking noise coming from your engine components as they work together without the buffer of your oil.
- Poor engine performance
Acceleration and performance troubles aren’t uncommon for drivers who are experiencing engine overheating. If you find that your engine isn’t working properly, check your temperature gauge and pay attention to any weird smell to confirm that overheating is indeed to blame.
Turn Your Problematic Car into a Vital Source of Support for Disadvantaged Folks
If your car continues to have engine issues despite numerous trips to the auto shop and spending a fortune each time, you’d be better off disposing of it. Splurging on repairs would be unwise since they can’t guarantee that your car would be restored to its former pristine condition.
You can still put that vehicle to good use though. By handing it over to us at Goodwill Car Donations, you’ll be helping the struggling disadvantaged people in your local area find opportunities to improve their living conditions.
Our team will have your vehicle auctioned off to generate funds for the Goodwill organizations serving your local area. Like us, these IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofits are dedicated to helping disadvantaged Americans — those who are saddled with disabilities, lack of education, job experience, or essential skills, and other limiting personal circumstances, such as being a former inmate or welfare-dependent.
Your local Goodwill organizations use the funding we give them to provide their beneficiaries with job and skills training, employment opportunities, scholarships, livelihood assistance, disability benefits, family support, educational services, financial assistance, and other essential support services.
You’ll also reap outstanding rewards from your charitable contribution. It will entitle you to claim the maximum tax deduction in the next tax season. You will also benefit from our free towing service, which we give to our donors throughout the country. Plus, you don’t need to worry about paperwork — our donation specialists will handle that for you.
We accept almost all vehicle types, including those that are damaged or no longer working properly.
For information about our quick and convenient vehicle donation process, tax deductions, and other important details about our vehicle donation program, feel free to check out our FAQs page. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call us at 866-233-8586 or leave us a message here.
Be a Ray of Hope to Your Less Fortunate Neighbors Today!
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio under Pexels License
Don’t miss this chance to contribute to uplifting the lives of the less fortunate folks in your area. Your auto donation will bring positive changes in their lives. Call Goodwill Car Donations at 866-233-8586 or fill out our secure online donation form now!
Last Updated: May 26th, 2023