One of the first things that anybody who drives a vehicle knows is that if the engine is steaming, there could be a serious mechanical problem underway.
In fact, there may be an issue that needs to be addressed right away because the engine steaming means that there could be a potentially dangerous situation brewing right under your hood.
What is potentially troubling for somebody who has a steaming engine is that they may not have a temperature reading that is very high. The question is, how can your car be running hot if it is not overheating and if the temperature doesn’t climb very high?
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Engine steaming but temperature gauge normal – What does this mean?
There are a number of things that could contribute to a situation where your engine begins to steam, but the temperature reading on your vehicle remains normal. You may have a damaged water pump or thermostat that is giving off an incorrect reading.
Additionally, you may be looking at low coolant levels that you need to have addressed as soon as possible. Finally, you may want to look at a clogged or damaged radiator as being part of the problem.
Damaged water pump or thermostat
Engine steaming but the temperature gauge is normal
The water pump on your vehicle may go out much more easily than you ever realized was possible.
Those who drive around enough will eventually wear out the water pump in their vehicle and need to get it replaced.
What people don’t always realize is that the water pump helps to filter the water through the vehicle to get it to the places where it needs to go in order to keep vital elements cool.
A water pump that is damaged or otherwise inoperable will cause problems that could result in your engine steaming even if the temperature reading is not getting that high.
At the same time, you may also have a faulty thermostat that you need to have looked at.
Remove the thermostat from your vehicle and take it inside your house. Boil a pot of water and then place the thermostat into that boiling pot of water to see if it registers a temperature increase.
If the thermostat does not react to the boiling water, then you have a faulty thermostat that has either been improperly installed or is simply worn out over time.
The fact of the matter is your car could be overheating and you don’t even realize it because the thermostat is not doing its job.
The steaming engine is likely a good indicator that your car really is overheating, even if the temperature reading that you see doesn’t seem to be that high.
Low coolant levels
You need to add coolant into your vehicle from time to time in order to maintain the stable temperature that your vehicle needs to operate at its best.
If you don’t take care to add coolant to your vehicle on a regular basis, you could do some permanent damage to that vehicle.
This may cause your engine to begin to steam even if you don’t notice a change in the temperature readings that you are able to see.
Coolant is affordable and easy to add into your vehicle by yourself.
However, if you find that you would like for a mechanic to do this work for you, they can quickly and easily get it done as well.
The important thing is to keep an eye on the coolant level of your vehicle so that you don’t take the risk of potentially causing engine damage or overheating simply because you did not add this critical liquid into your vehicle.
Clogged or damaged radiator
If any vital aspect of your vehicle becomes clogged or damaged, it may cause issues that manifest in other parts of the vehicle.
A clogged or damaged radiator can have effects that ultimately cause you to see steam come from your engine.
In order to combat this, you must do what you can to get your radiator cleaned up and/or replaced depending on the extent of the damage.
The purchase of a radiator is not something that comes cheaply, but it is a lot better than continuing to try to run your car as it is overheating.
In fact, your vehicle will hit a certain point when it is overheating that it simply will not operate any longer.
If you try to push it to the limit, your vehicle will eventually shut down and may become completely worthless as a result of this reckless action.
Hopefully, your radiator is simply clogged and can be cleaned up in a way that will allow it to operate as normal.
The only way to know for sure is to take your vehicle into a mechanic and have them take a look at the radiator and all other elements that could be causing the issues with your engine.
Frequently Asked Questions About Engine Steaming But Temperature Gauge Normal
How do I fix a steaming engine?
You shouldn’t necessarily take on the process of trying to fix an engine that is steaming on your own. There is significant danger that this may pose to your health and to the health and safety of those around you. However, if you have no other choice but to try to do something about your overheated engine, you can attempt the following:
Pull over immediately
Turn off the AC and turn on the heater
Shut off the engine and allow it to cool down before opening the hood
Check on the coolant levels and add coolant as necessary
Sometimes just getting a little extra coolant added into the vehicle, maybe all that is necessary to get it resolved for the time being.
What does it mean if the temperature gauge goes straight to high?
If your temperature gauge goes straight to high from the moment you turn on your vehicle, you may have a malfunctioning engine coolant temperature sensor. The likelihood is that your vehicle is not actually getting that hot right off the bat. The faulty sensor is likely showing a reading that is inaccurate. If this is the case, then your vehicle may not actually require certain repairs at this time. However, you may still want to get the sensor looked at so that it’ll stop reading inaccurately.
Conclusion To Engine Steaming But Temperature Gauge Normal
There are many things that can cause your engine to steam even if your temperature gauge does not accurately correspond with an increased temperature. The most common reason is a damaged water pump or thermostat. Make sure you take a look at what those factors could be and get them resolved as soon as you can.