If you’ve never had your vehicle experience overheating before, it can be quite alarming when you’re out on the road. If your vehicle is pouring smoke or vapor out of its hood, that is the number one tell-tale sign that your car is overheating. But what is the cause of this? And more importantly, what can be done about it?
Since you can’t confidently and safely operate your car when it is continuously experiencing overheating, it’s important to get to the bottom of the problem and find a solution that will help you get back on the road. One of the common causes of an overheating vehicle is a blown head gasket. From the expert mechanics here at AutoScope, here’s how a blown head gasket can influence your overheating vehicle.
The Function of a Head Gasket
First, let’s discuss the purpose of a head gasket when it comes to the structure and inner functions of your car.
The head gasket within your vehicle’s inner workings plays an integral role in your car’s cooling system. The two main functions of a head gasket are channeling the coolant for optimal engine cooling and creating a seal between the engine block and head.
However, when a head gasket blows, this valuable part of your cooling system can begin to let coolant seep into your engine where it is not only useless but will be burnt off, or it will cause a leak of coolant onto the ground where it is also, unsurprisingly, not useful. With this in mind, it’s clear to see that a blown head gasket can cause serious barriers to the proper cooling of your vehicle’s engine and, therefore, can cause overheating.
A blown head gasket is not a minor repair that can be put off – it’s essential to the proper function of your car. As a result, it’s vital that you visit a European mechanic shop so that it can be repaired.
What You Need to Know About Overheating
Now that we know how a blown head gasket can cause overheating, its important to also know the effects that overheating can have on your vehicle and how to spot it as quickly as possible.
Common Signs of Overheating
If you have a hunch that your vehicle might be overheating, look for these signs:
●Temperature gauge has extended past the normal limit
●Unusual smell exuding from the engine (often described as your car smelling ‘hot’)
● Smoke or vapor escaping from under the hood
● Ticking or thumping sound in the engine
● Coolant leak on the ground where you were parked
● Low coolant level in your coolant overflow tank
● Reduction in the power of your engine
● Hood is hot to the touch
Your Car is Overheating: What To Do
If you notice any of the above symptoms while you are driving, here’s what you can do in the moment:
● Calmly and safely pull over to the side of the road
● Check under the hood (staying mindful of heat and steam)
● Check is the system is pressurized
● Check coolant level (this might be low if you’ve had a leak)
● Remove the radiator cap carefully once it is cool enough to touch
If the engine hasn’t cooled while you have been pulled over, the best bet is to call a tow truck to have your car brought to your trusted mechanic who will be able to determine the issue and solve the issue so you can safely use your vehicle once again.
If you were able to get your engine to cool, this doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily in the clear. It’s likely that the source of the problem still exists and, in time, overheating will occur again. Safely drive to your preferred mechanic who can assess the issue and determine whether further repairs are required.
Unfortunately, this problem is universal and can happen in any make and model of vehicle. This includes vehicles that we specialize in at AutoScope, including vehicles from Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche.
Quality European Car Care
If you find yourself wondering if your vehicle has blown a head gasket, its time to make your way into a shop that you know you can trust. AutoScope serves the Dallas, Plano, Frisco, Flower Mound, and Irving areas with quality auto maintenance and repair services for European vehicles such as Audi, Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, MINI and Mercedes.
Get back out on the road! Schedule your appointment at AutoScope today by contacting us online here.