What You May Be Noticing
The temperature gauge climbs where it normally does not, or a warning appears telling you the engine is hot. Sometimes there is steam, a sweet smell, or a puddle of green, orange or pink fluid under the car.
Overheating is one of the few car problems where continuing to drive can turn a moderate repair into an engine replacement in a matter of minutes. If the gauge is in the red, the right move is to stop, shut it off, and call.
What YBE Checks and Repairs
We pressure-test the system to find where it is losing coolant, because most overheating starts as a leak. Radiators, hoses, water pumps, thermostat housings and heater cores all fail in ways that look similar from the driver seat.
We also check the parts that move heat rather than hold coolant: thermostat operation, cooling-fan operation, and whether the radiator is actually passing air and fluid the way it should. A fan that stopped working only shows up as overheating in traffic, not on the highway.
And we check for the serious version. If exhaust gases are getting into the cooling system, that points at a head gasket, and you want to know that before spending money on a radiator.
Common Warning Signs
- Temperature gauge reading higher than normal, or in the red
- Steam or a sweet syrupy smell from under the hood
- Colored fluid puddles where you park
- Heater blowing cold when the engine is warm
- Having to add coolant repeatedly
- Overheating in traffic but not at highway speed
What This May Include
- Cooling-system pressure test to locate leaks
- Radiator, hose, water pump and thermostat inspection
- Cooling-fan and fan-clutch operation check
- Coolant condition check and correct-type refill
- Combustion-gas test when a head gasket is suspected
- Repair or replacement of the failed component and verification under load
Why This Should Not Wait
Heat is what destroys engines. Aluminum heads warp, gaskets fail, and the damage from one bad overheat can be permanent and expensive.
A cooling leak also tends to fail suddenly rather than gradually. A hose that has been seeping for weeks can split all at once, and it usually does it in traffic rather than in your driveway.
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Areas We Serve
Based in Capitol Heights, MD, serving nearby Maryland and Washington, DC.
