Minnesota may be known for its frigid winters, but the blazingly hot summers can certainly take their toll in a number of ways too. The heat can sometimes quickly cook a car, leading to a sputtering engine and a plume of steam or smoke from underneath the hood.

As a go-to source for auto repair services, Stillwater Auto Clinic has handled countless cases of overheated vehicles. The auto shop’s talented team believes that the first step to preventing the issue is understanding what can cause it in the first place.

Even in the harshest heat, a car’s cooling system usually keeps the internal temperature at a manageable level.  However, various elements of the system — water pump, coolant jacket, heater core, and radiator — can malfunction, causing a temperature spike and possible damage. Circulation issues are the main cause of overheating, but those issues can be caused in several ways:

• Blockage: When part of the cooling system is blocked, the lack of coolant circulation can cause the engine to overheat. Mineral deposits, foreign objects, and an improperly functioning thermostat all can be sources of blockage issues.
• Leaks: When the coolant level drops because of a leak, air is sucked into the system and circulated throughout. This can cause a bubble, called an airlock, that can’t be forced through the system. This stops the coolant from circulating and causes the engine to overheat.
• Unconcentrated Coolant: It doesn’t always take hot temperatures to overheat your car. Freezing cold can make coolant gel up and cause a blockage, possibly leading to serious auto repair jobs, like a radiator replacement.
• Water Pump Problems: The water pump works harder than any other part of your car’s cooling system. This constant use can slowly degrade its bearings and impeller, eventually halting their operations altogether. When this happens, the engine overheating isn’t far off.

Now that you know some common reasons for overheating, you can identify the problems quicker and prevent serious damage to your vehicle. You can’t catch everything, however, and Stillwater Auto Clinic is ready to assist in any type of auto repair service you may need, regardless of the temperature. For more information call (651) 351-7188 or visit the website today.