Truck Heating System: 8 Reasons Why Your Heavy-Duty Truck May Overheat

If your heavy-duty truck begins to overheat, it is essential to pull over as soon as it is safe and legal. When that happens, you may contact a roadside heavy-duty truck technician who can assist you in determining if your vehicle is safe to use. If not, the technician may come to you and take whatever action is required to get your vehicle back on the road. Here are some reasons why heavy-duty trucks overheat. 

1. Blown head gasket

Check your engine for symptoms of a problem if the temperature gauge on your vehicle suddenly goes up or if you see white vapor coming from below your hood. Check specifically around the head gasket for any bubbling coolant, which signifies that the head gasket needs to be replaced. 

2. Inadequate water pump 

Water pumps are internal systems; thus, they are sometimes disregarded as a potential issue spot. However, if the pump's impeller is worn out or it has begun to leak, overheating will probably occur. 

3. A faulty radiator cap 

A damaged radiator cap could make it difficult for your truck's cooling system to build and release pressure. A faulty cap may result in severe issues like a radiator seam leak or a burst hose. 

4. Fluid Leak 

Driving without the appropriate amount of clean coolant might cause cooling system problems. Multiple places may leak coolant, and a mobile heavy-duty truck technician can come to you to locate and fix the leak. 

5. Airlocks 

A huge air bubble that has been trapped within the liquid coolant that helps to control engine temperatures is known as an airlock. This bubble develops when a leak lowers the system's coolant level, causing air to rush in to fill the empty area. 

The liquid antifreeze that should be flowing through the system to cool the engine cannot because of the air bubble sitting on top of the coolant. As a result, the bubble forms an airlock, which in turn causes the engine to produce too much heat that is inefficiently dispersed. 

Running your engine at idle may aid in eliminating the airlock, but it can take time and effort to remove the air bubble from the cooling system entirely. 

If the problem persists, transport your truck to the next repair facility by calling a heavy-duty towing firm to avoid additional harm to the engine. 

Run your vehicle on enough diesel to prevent the annoyance that airlocks might create. Additionally, do routine maintenance on your truck to find and stop any possible coolant leaks. 

6. Blocked thermostat 

The thermostat is a component used in engines that regulates engine temperature to keep it within a safe range. The thermostat enables the best coolant flow when it is functioning correctly since it neither completely shut nor opens. 

A broken thermostat will get stuck in one of two states: open or closed. Engine overheating and significantly reduced engine efficiency may result from excessive and insufficient coolant flow. 

Your engine might unexpectedly overheat if you have ongoing thermostat issues. Ask a towing service to bring you to the closest truck repair shop to replace the thermostat if your engine stops due to overheating. 

7. Failures in the cooling fan 

Your truck's radiator is topped with an electric cooling fan. When the engine is scorching, or coolant levels are insufficient the fan kicks on in order to control engine temperatures.

A broken cooling fan won't turn on, which causes a buildup of heat under the hood that might seriously harm the engine. A faulty cooling fan will also impact other parts that are essential to the engine's efficiency, including the thermostat and radiator. To prevent expensive engine system damage, replace your truck's cooling fan as soon as possible. 

8. Problems with the electrolysis process 

Electric currents break down coolant to create hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis. These gases can quickly corrode important components of your truck, including the cooling fan, water pump, and radiator, which serve to cool the engine when mixed with condensed water and out-of-date coolant. 

Electrolysis-related engine issues might be challenging to diagnose on your own. Find a diesel repair expert to identify and resolve this issue. Engine issues may cause you trouble whether you own one vehicle or a whole fleet, mainly if they are left unattended. Consider partnering with a reputable towing business to send your truck to the nearest truck repair shop for prompt repairs in addition to maintaining a regular truck maintenance schedule.

Final words

The danger of engine damage might be increased by excessive heat beneath the hood of your commercial vehicle, even though engines naturally generate a lot of heat. Trucks hauling trailers over long distances are particularly susceptible to overheating. 

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At Iron Buffalo, we provide expert heavy-duty truck and equipment repair, fleet maintenance, and specialty diesel services to keep your vehicles performing at their best.From semi-truck repair and hydraulic cylinder services to DOT inspections, mobile truck repair, and truck-mounted crane maintenance, our certified technicians deliver reliable solutions tailored to your needs. Whether you need routine preventive maintenance or complex engine diagnostics, our Denver, CO, and Kalispell, MT locations are equipped to handle the job. Contact us to schedule service and keep your trucks, trailers, and heavy equipment running strong.

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