Has the temperature gauge on your dashboard started fluctuating alarmingly? Have you noticed a lessening in engine power or a faint ticking sound? Never ignore even slight symptoms of an overheating engine; visit your Kia dealership immediately for a cooling system check if you experience the following warning signs.
Ticking Sounds
You’ll hopefully notice an issue with the coolant or radiator long before the engine starts to overheat. But if you somehow miss the early signs, you’ll eventually hear ticking sounds as friction climbs and extreme heat causes the engine’s components to expand.
Plummeting Power
An overheating engine will rapidly lose power as it leaves the optimal operating temperature. As super-heated components expand, everything works less efficiently. Your acceleration will become sluggish, and if you’re driving at speed on the highway, you’ll find your car slowing down.
Escaping White Vapor
Steam will famously burst from the hood of an overheating engine compartment, as we’ve all seen by the roadside or in movies. This steam is actually boiling coolant, which starts to vaporize once the engine passes about 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Before you see steam, you may smell the coolant burning, which produces a distinctly sweet smell.
Rising Temperature Gauge
As you drive, keep an eye on the engine temperature gauge. If its dial ever starts to bounce upward erratically, pull over. A faulty cooling mechanism may be causing your engine to overheat; if you catch overheating at the early stages, you may avert serious damage.
Rusty Radiator
You can check your car’s radiator any time to see if it’s rusting. Slight external rust can be cleaned away, but serious rust threatens to make a hole and means the radiator needs to go.
Degrading Coolant
Also, check how the coolant looks inside its reservoir, which will usually be transparent. Fresh-enough coolant will have a colorful, clear appearance, but aging or deteriorating coolant may look murky or milky with debris floating in it. And internal radiator rust will turn the coolant brown.
Leaking Coolant
If the reservoir clearly shows the coolant to be low, top it up and check under your car for leaks. If you notice a puddle of sweet-smelling liquid, it’s best not to drive until a technician has remedied the problem. Driving with low or leaking coolant is a surefire way to overheat your engine.
Have Both Coolant and Radiator Checked at Your Kia Dealership
It’s generally recommended to have your radiator pressure-tested once a year. Our technicians will also check the coolant, topping up or flushing it when required. Coolant typically lasts two or three years between flushes.
Still unsure if you need a Cooling System Check? Visit Fitzgerald Kia of Annapolis in Annapolis, MD, today. Our qualified and certified professionals can keep your engine cool, powerful, and reliable for the full lifespan of your car.
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Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.