Almost all vehicles manufactured today are equipped with internal combustion engines, which are incredibly inefficient due to a large amount of heat generated. Friction and combustion generate heat in the machine, and the temperature in the combustion chamber can reach 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
These extreme conditions when you travel to far places can overheat without a proper cooling system and cause many problems.
Hose Under Pressure
When driving an overheated car but still has coolant, such as when the thermostat is out of order, the high temperatures can cause the antifreeze to boil and expand, putting heavy pressure on the radiator hose. This can cause the hose to burst suddenly or the coolant to spurt out a weak or ruptured seal. For sudden car breakdowns like this, you may need towing service San Jose.
Warp Cylinder Head
Many vehicles have aluminum cylinder heads, but aluminum is not a material that can withstand a lot of heat without warping or melting. The cylinder head will eventually distort if you overheat the car and continue driving. When this happens, the head gasket is blown off and can require time-consuming and costly repairs.
It also competes with the combustion process because the head does not work well when distorted. Signs of cylinder head distortion include poor engine performance, misfires, oil leaks, or excessive oil combustion.
Blown Head Gasket
The worst scenario if you drive a car for a long time while overheating is the head gasket being blown off. This has a devastating impact on the vehicle. It is also one of the most expensive repairs to date. The engine coolant may leak and mix with the engine oil if the head gasket flies. Of course, vehicles that contain antifreeze in their oil are not designed to function correctly.
Symptoms of head gasket blow-off include milky white engine oil, dark white smoke from the exhaust vents and a significant decrease in engine performance.
Melting Engine Component
Many other components surround the engine compartment and can be damaged by excessive heat. Driving a car in an overheated state puts all parts such as welds, gaskets, sensors, belts, electrical wiring, exhaust manifolds, steering columns, and fuel pumps at risk.
Damage to the Exhaust System
Even though the car is overheating, much hot gas still moves and is exhausted through the exhaust system. If the temperature is high enough for an extended period, this can cause severe damage to the exhaust manifold and catalytic converter.