Why does my car cool down when I turn on the heater?

The fact that turning on the heater allows the engine to cool down indicates that the thermostat is not doing it’s job. Your temperature gauge should remain centered from then on, and you can be sure the correct coolant will then be in your engine.

Can a bad thermostat cause a car to run hot?

Overheating. Because your thermostat controls temperature of fluids from the radiator hose, a bad thermostat will cause your car to overheat. When the engine temperature has reached the operating level, it should allow coolant to flow to the engine and regulate the heat.

What causes a car’s radiator to stop cooling?

When a radiator plugs internally these tubes become clogged due to lack of maintenance ( radiator flush) calcium will then stop the coolant flow which inhibits the radiator’s cooling ability. This condition generally occurs gradually over time and will be more noticeable when climbing a grade or in warmer weather.

How can I tell if my car radiator is failing?

The second way a radiator can fail is to become plugged internally. To check for this condition, remove the radiator cap when the engine is cold look inside using a flashlight. You may need to drain some of the coolant out to see the ends of the radiator core tubes.

How can you tell if a car cooling fan has gone bad?

To check an electric motor cooling fan, remove the key from the ignition switch and away from the car. Then reach in and spin the fan blade by hand, it should “freewheel” and spin easily. If it sounds rough or is difficult to turn it has gone bad and needs replacement.

How often should you flush your Radiator if your car is overheating?

If your car has more than 50,000 miles on it, your radiator may begin to get gummed up. You can avoid this and other problems associated with old coolant by flushing your radiator once a year. There’s nothing good about an overheating problem. If your engine is running hot you should try to fix the problem as quickly as possible.