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Although vehicle engines produce heat naturally, the long distances covered by commercial trucks make their engines prone to overheating. Overheating can damage this essential vehicle component, leading to costly repairs and reducing the truck’s longevity. Learning the most common causes for trucks to overheat can help you locate the issue and find the right solution.
Engine overheating occurs when the engine temperature exceeds the designed operating range. The normal operating temperature for vehicle engines is between 190 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit, and anything beyond this range is considered overheating.
What causes a truck to overheat, and what should you do when your truck overheats? Here are some of the common reasons for truck engine overheating and what you can do to solve the issue.
Coolant plays a critical role in cooling your truck by removing heat from the engine. If the mixture of antifreeze and water that makes up the coolant doesn’t properly circulate, your truck may run hot. Poor circulation happens when the water pump isn’t working properly. Low antifreeze can also cause overheating — low antifreeze means there’s low coolant or an incorrect ratio of water to antifreeze.
Leaks can cause low coolant levels. These leaks can be difficult to find, so it’s critical to practice regular truck maintenance to stay on top of these issues. An incorrect coolant-to-water ratio may also cause problems and lead to engine overheating.
Additionally, old coolant can cause overheating. Coolant becomes corrosive over time and can lead to wear on the cooling system, eventually overheating the engine.
Can a thermostat cause overheating? Your thermostat is one of the critical components of the cooling system, ensuring the coolant can pass through to the radiator when necessary. When the thermostat is stuck, the coolant cannot pass through, leading to engine overheating.
When a truck’s engine gets hot, the thermostat opens up the flow of coolant to reduce temperatures. In comparison, when the engine is cold, the thermostat blocks the flow of coolant, which helps to raise the temperatures of the cold engine. This is how your thermostat helps the engine regulate temperatures. A failed or stuck thermostat is bad news for the engine — once it gets hot, there’s no way to cool it, which ultimately leads to overheating.
Some of the signs your thermostat has failed include:
A malfunctioning thermostat can be detected using diagnostic tools or by a mechanic checking its operation in a controlled environment.
Your truck has many moving parts that need to be oiled to avoid friction. Engine oil provides the much-needed lubrication to ensure these moving parts operate smoothly by reducing heat-generating friction. When the levels of engine oil run low, there’s more friction, creating heat. Just like a coolant, engine oil helps transfer heat away from the engine.
Regular oil changes are the best way to ensure you avoid the friction that can build up heat in the engine. Always use new oil when doing an oil change, as old oil can cause overheating by losing its lubrication properties and causing friction.
The water pump circulates the engine coolant throughout the coolant system. If this pump fails, the engine will overheat. Common water pump issues include corroded impeller blades, leaks from the pump seal, and loose belts.
To find the best water pump overheating solution, you must first identify the cause. Check if the water pump works correctly by removing the belt and spinning the pulley. If there’s resistance or it doesn’t spin freely, you should replace the water pump.
Signs that your water pump is faulty include overheating soon after the truck starts, unusual noises from the pump, and coolant leaks near the front of the truck.
Another common reason for an overheating engine is a faulty radiator. The radiator’s main role is to cool the engine coolant as it passes through, and a failed radiator means the coolant isn’t in the right form to cool the engine.
A bent or damaged radiator can impair its function, making it difficult to extract heat from the coolant. Issues with the radiator fans can also compromise the radiator’s capability to reduce the coolant temperatures.
If you find that your engine’s truck is overheating, your first step is to investigate and find out what’s causing the issue. Take a look at the coolant, thermostat, oil level, water pump, and radiator to see if you notice anything wrong. By locating the problem, you can find the right solution — for example, if you discover that oil levels are low, change engine oil according to the truck’s specific requirements, and your overheating problem may be solved.
If your truck’s engine overheats while on the road, you should stop immediately. Let the truck sit with the engine off for at least 15 minutes to allow the engine to cool. If you have coolant on hand, you can use it to top off the supply in your truck. Otherwise, contact an emergency roadside repair service to fix the issue and help you get back on the road.
If your overheating issue persists, you should have a professional look at your truck as soon as possible. If you let the truck overheat multiple times, it can lead to problems with the engine block, gaskets, and other critical parts of your engine. Keep in mind that because of the high temperatures, the risks of your vehicle overheating in summer are higher than in other seasons. During these warmer months, you may need to stay extra vigilant about keeping your engine at the proper temperatures.
An overheating engine can disrupt your operations and damage other parts of the truck. No matter the time of the year, keeping your engine cool is a top priority. When you’re in need of truck engine repair or maintenance, Thompson Truck Source is here to assist.
Serving the Alabama and northern Florida areas, our team of local technicians has the expertise to complete everything from simple parts fixes to complete engine overhauls. Additionally, we have an extensive inventory of quality new, used, and aftermarket parts available to facilitate work on a variety of truck makes and models.
Find a location near you today to speak with a representative and learn more about our service options.