Why Your Engine Overheats When the AC Is On: Common Causes Explained

On the hot summer days, driving can be very challenging and mysterious. When the car becomes heated, many drivers face difficulty. Some car owners experience problems when turning on the AC, especially if the car used to heat up quickly. Sometimes, when the car is turned on, the engine heats up rapidly within a few minutes, which can cause serious damage to the car’s components.

When the air conditioner is on on a hot sunny day, your car engine can be overheated because the AC system adds additional load on it. The AC compressor consumes extra power, causing the engine to work and produce more heat. This makes the radiator weak and makes it more possible that the cooling fans stop working. In this, we deal with the cause of the overheating process of the engine, so we work on the car’s inner parts, like the radiator, cooling fans, gas, temperature, and sensors. 

The Causes Of Overheating When The AC Of the Car Is On

The causes of overheating include overheating of the dashboard, engine, and seats. If you turn on your car’s AC and the car runs at normal temperature quickly after turning off the car’s AC. The compressor of the AC places more load on the engine. The motor of your engine will overheat due to so much strain.

  • When the AC is running. It will start to put a load on the engine.
  • The air conditioner consumes more power from the engine.
  • The air conditioner put more stress on the compressor.

Disadvantages of Overheating When The AC Of the Car Is On

Cooling System Issues

If the compressor is working fine. So the issue is in the cooling system, and there is an issue in the components of the cooling system. Inside the radiator can also block coolant flow, and a failing water pump will not remove heat efficiently.

Load On the Engine By The AC 

When you turn on the AC, your car’s engine has to work overtime. If you are also using a heavy load, the temperature of the engine can rise quickly. The AC can take more energy from the engine, which can be overloaded by the compressor. The compressor adds a flow of energy into the engine, and if it cannot be managed, the engine may start to overheat.

Fault in Fans

The engine can be heated by a fault in the fans, which makes the engine cool, and if, by any type of fault, the fans cannot turn on, the engine starts burning and causes damage. The radiator will become overheated.

Sensor Problem

Why Your Engine Overheats When the AC Is On: Common Causes Explained

Sometimes the sensor creates issues, but it cannot show accurate results. Because the temperature of the car is normal. So, at this time, immediately change the sensor and take the car to the mechanic.

How do we fix the overheating of the car?

Check The Coolant

First, we check the coolant of the cars; if it’s low, check for a coolant leakage and have it repaired by a mechanic. The mechanic will repair the issue and solve it. The mechanic checks the leakage of the coolant and fixes it.

Gas Problem

Sometimes we do not use a suitable gas for the car. So, this time you will take your car to your mechanic, who checks the gas and refills it.

Check The Radiator

Why Your Engine Overheats When the AC Is On: Common Causes Explained

Check the radiator of the car, and check this properly. It is damaged and blocked by the use of the radiator check kit. You can check the leakage and flow of air into the radiator and check the problem in the radiator.

For Immediate checking of the car when car overheats on the road 

Open the bonnet and check the radiator. If the radiator and coolant are under high pressure, we turn off the engine of the car for fifteen to thirty minutes and then check the radiator. keep your face away from the radiator case, and keep your face safe from the steam of the radiator case. Use gloves and any type of thing that covers your hands and protects them from any liquid.

Then check the coolant, and if the coolant is low, the engine temperature will decrease. First, fill the coolant with water, and then check the leakage of the coolant, and then check the temperature of the car gauge. 

How to Make Your Engine Safe

Recheck every day the temperature of your engine, always, and prevent it from overheating, like by avoiding parking the car in the bright sunlight and then avoiding turning on the AC of the car, and check your radiator regularly.

Maintain your car regularly.

Always change your car’s gas and make the radiator leakage-proof, and in case of any doubt, take your car to your mechanic and check the health of your car regularly to keep your car running smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

When the AC of our car is overheated, can we replace our thermostat?

Yes, A radiator causes overheating with AC because the damage in the radiator overheats the car with AC and decreases the flow of coolant, and check with our mechanic if he suggests we change the thermostat if it causes damage in the car. 

Can a sensor temperature cause overheating?

Yes, the temperature of the sensor causes overheating because the sensor gives a wrong reading. The reading of the sensor affects the overheating of the car.

Why do faulty car fans cause issues in the car engine?

A faulty fan can stop cooling fans from running. Therefore, the temperature of the car increases quickly. This is the main reason for the faulty fan damage.

How can we protect our car from damage?

We can make our car protected from damage by regularly checking the car’s stability, its temperature, its radiator, and its air compressor.

Conclusion

Car engines can be overheated when the AC is on, especially during hot summer days or when people are using heavy loads. The main reasons include extra engine power on the engine from the AC compressors, cooling system problems, faulty fans, and sometimes sensor issues. Regular maintenance of cars, such as checking engine coolant levels, inspecting the radiator for issues, rechecking the proper AC gas, and fixing faulty parts of the car, can avoid overheating and protect your engine from damage and overheating. 

By addressing these issues, you can make your car run smoothly, even with the AC on, and avoid costly repairs in the future. By taking care of these issues, you also make your car smoother and faster and make your engine more secure and long-lasting.

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