9 Common Symptoms of Engine Damage From Overheating
An overheating car engine can result in serious—and expensive—damage. Learn what warning signs you should look out for here.
Written by Melanie Krieps Mergen
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
If your engine has experienced damage from overheating, you may notice symptoms like burning scents, fluid leaks, or (in a worst-case scenario) a cracked engine block. If you suspect your engine may be damaged due to overheating, it’s best to have it assessed by a mechanic.
Naturally, a car’s engine heats up the longer it runs. Your engine coolant system is designed to kick in and help regulate your engine’s temperature to protect it from the serious damage that can come with overheating—so you can continue on your trip safely and uninterrupted.
However, problems may still arise and go unnoticed, and when that happens, an overheated engine can result in serious damage. Here to show you some of the symptoms you should watch out for is
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Vehicle engines run at blazing hot temperatures, but there is such a thing as too hot.
Generally speaking, normal engine operating temperatures can range from about 195°F to 220°F, depending on the vehicle.
When a car overheats beyond that range, serious and expensive damage may ensue—and sometimes, you might not even be aware something happened until symptoms arise.
The following are some common symptoms that could mean your engine experienced damage from overheating.
Coolant leak
If you discover your vehicle is leaking coolant, your engine temperature might not be regulating properly, in which case you’ll want to check your current coolant levels and look for other signs of potential damage.
The antifreeze fluid can range in color depending on what kind your vehicle uses, so if you’re not sure about the source of your fluid leak, you’ll want to have a mechanic take a look.
Knocking or ticking sounds
If you hear mysterious ticking noises coming from your engine, it may be due to a loss of lubrication, which could be related to overheating.
Oil is designed to circulate at a certain viscosity (or thickness) within a specific temperature range. Excess heat can cause the oil to get thinner, after which your engine components won’t be properly lubricated—which can increase the wear and tear they experience and eventually cause damage.
Low oil levels or oil leak
Engine oil also plays a role in protecting your vehicle from overheating. It’s not just an oil’s viscosity that matters to keep an engine’s components properly lubricated—how much oil you have also matters.
If your oil level is too low or you’ve discovered an oil leak, your engine could be at risk of overheating if it hasn’t already happened.
Engine gets extremely hot, even after short trips
As we’ve already established, engines generate a lot of heat. It’s expected that your hood will feel quite warm after you’ve made a trip in your vehicle, but it shouldn’t feel extremely hot—especially after short trips.
If this is the case, there could be a problem with the cooling system signaling that the engine’s temperature isn’t being properly regulated.
Rising temperature gauge reading or dashboard warning lights
If your engine is overheating, one of your first indicators may be the temperature gauge on your dashboard. If your temperature gauge needle is moving into the red zone, it’s time to let your engine cool down and evaluate what the cause might be.
Additional indicator lights may also illuminate on your dashboard related to coolant levels or engine temperatures.
Damaged pistons
Excessive heat can cause pistons or piston rings in your engine to warp or break—which can be quite complicated and expensive to repair.
Cracked engine block
This is one of the most severe signs of damage to your engine. An overheating engine could expand to the point where parts of the engine develop cracks, which could spring oil leaks and affect how the engine functions.
By the time engine block cracks appear, it’s often best to replace your entire engine rather than try to repair it.
Strange odor coming from the engine
If you smell scents like oil, hot metal, or burning rubber coming from your engine, it may be a consequence of overheating.
Worsening engine performance
Worsening engine performance can be related to a whole host of problems, and an overheating engine is one of them.
When an overheating car engine experiences too much damage, it won’t be able to run the way it’s supposed to. That might show up in different ways when it comes to engine performance. You might notice rougher idling at stop lights or a reduced fuel economy, or you may find accelerating is more difficult than usual.
What causes an overheating car engine, and what happens when it does?
Myriad reasons can lead to overheating issues in a vehicle. Some of the most common causes of an overheating engine include:
- Low oil levels
- Cooling system leaks or clogged coolant hoses
- Faulty water pump
- Damaged head gaskets or cylinder heads
- Radiator failure
- Faulty thermostat
- Extending your vehicle beyond its performance capabilities
- Skipping essential maintenance items
Excess heat can cause serious damage to a vehicle’s engine. If problems leading to an overheating engine are caught early enough, they can be addressed before further damage happens. The necessary fixes could be as simple as refilling your oil or coolant levels or replacing a single component.
However, if an engine continues to overheat too long, the damage could become increasingly severe, and in some cases, may not be salvageable at all. When engine block cracking occurs, for example, it may be necessary to replace your entire engine.
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What to do if your car engine overheats
If the needle on your vehicle’s temperature gauge is rising into the red territory—or if a warning light on your dashboard is warning you about coolant levels or your engine temperature—you should stop driving as soon as possible and allow your engine some time to cool off.
If you’re concerned that your engine may have overheated, have a mechanic inspect your engine for signs of damage to evaluate whether any repairs or replacements are necessary.
How to prevent an engine from overheating
The best way to combat an overheating engine is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some steps you can take to do just that:
- Perform basic routine maintenance, like oil changes and cooling system inspections, at the proper intervals
- Repair problems like leaks as soon as they’re discovered
- Monitor coolant and oil levels periodically
- Turn your engine off before it reaches extreme temperatures
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How long does it take for an engine to overheat?
How long it takes for an engine to overheat all depends on the type of vehicle, the driving conditions it’s under, the cause(s) behind the overheating, and how severe they are.
How do I know if my engine is damaged?
If you’re worried your engine has been damaged from overheating, look out for signs like coolant or oil links or visibly damaged parts related to your engine or the cooling system.
Some damage, like damaged pistons, may be hard to spot yourself, so the best way to know whether your engine has been damaged due to overheating is to have it inspected by a certified mechanic.
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