Why is my car hot but not hot enough to cause overheating?

When your vehicle's temperature gauge continues to rise while you're driving, it may be incredibly distressing. We understand how you feel. It's not amusing. This symbol signifies that the temperature of your vehicle's engine is rising, which is an issue.

Drivers who are unsure what to do get even more irritated. But don't panic; today we'll teach you about the causes of your car running hot but not overheating, as well as how to get to that appointment or function on time even if you're in this predicament.

Just so you know, it's far preferable to catch this problem early on so it doesn't worsen into something else, or worse, something that would necessitate a big repair bill. Most drivers ignore their vehicle's temperature gauge until the engine check light illuminates. 

Check online for how long is my MOT status valid for and have the issues rectified as this could lead to a MOT test failure.

The temperature gauge is a gadget that measures and controls the temperature of your vehicle's engine. This indicator should show the engine's average temperature, which should be neither too hot nor too cold. When the temperature gauge suddenly rises, it indicates a significant rise in the temperature of your vehicle's engine, which might cause the engine to knock.

The fact that the temperature gauge is rising in value does not always imply that the engine is overheating. A defective temperature gauge might also be at blame.

We recommend to thorough your MOT certificate to check MOT status of your vehicle and complete any repairs required before your next MOT test is due.

What are the reasons of a hot vehicle that isn't overheating?

Running your car on a very hot engine is not a smart idea. If your engine becomes too hot, you could notice white smoke coming from it. If you find yourself in this situation, you must first determine what caused it before considering a remedy, as there are several things that might cause your car to run hot but not overheat.

Your previous MOT history paperwork will also establish if the overheating issue was a reason for a MOT test failure in the past. If this is the case, go through your repair invoiced to see what repair work has been completed.

It's critical to understand how most of your vehicle's systems work when driving. We'll look at the majority of the reasons of this issue:

1.     Faulty Temperature Gauge 

The temperature gauge is made up of parts that are easily damaged. However, after looking into other possible explanations, this issue should be considered as one of the last. When confined in a hot part, the needle component of a temperature gauge, for example, can easily be destroyed. The function of this needle can be influenced by a number of gears in your vehicle's temperature gauge. If the temperature gauge does not offer a consistent reading, this is a hint that this is the problem. Look online for MOT Reading and book your vehicle in with a garage that carries out MOT tests and vehicle repair work to save you time and money. If your vehicle's radiator cap is not correctly secured, the temperature gauge may display an incorrect value. Also, keep in mind that a defective temperature gauge might cause the engine to overheat despite the temperature gauge being normal.

2.     Damaged Head Gasket

One of the causes of the temperature gauge rising but the car not overheating is a defective head gasket. If you observe any head gasket blown symptoms, it signifies the head gasket is forming the seal between the cylinder head and the engine block. As a result, the seal through which the engine oil goes, as well as the combustion chamber and coolant, are unprotected. Coolant leaking can be caused by a broken head gasket. Check MOT historyand see if this was a culprit of the past.

3.     Water Pump Failure 

Your vehicle's cooling system relies heavily on the water pump. Your cooling system will not have enough force to carry the coolant via the passageways or hoses if it is not operating properly. It may wreak havoc on your vehicle's overall cooling system, causing it to overheat. The temperature increase in your vehicle's engine might be caused by the water pump being impacted by leaks or floods.

4.     Low Coolant Level

Your vehicle will become heated if the coolant level in the coolant reservoir is low. The lack of coolant in your vehicle's reservoir will prevent the system from functioning correctly, causing the engine's temperature to rise. A low coolant level might eventually destroy your vehicle's whole cooling system. This is why it's critical to check the coolant level in your vehicle's reservoir on a frequent basis and to maintain your reservoir tank filled.

5.     Faulty Radiator Fan

The radiator fan in your car collects heat from the engine to assist lower the temperature of the coolant. If the fan fails to perform its duty due to a failure, it might cause the engine system to overheat. A variation in the radiator fan's functioning might also cause a rise and decrease in your vehicle's engine temperature. This is one of the causes that might cause a quick change in the temperature gauge's reading.

6.     A Faulty Thermostat

The thermostat is a critical valve in your vehicle's cooling system that ensures that hot coolant is transferred to the radiator when it is needed. If the thermostat is damaged, it will be unable to drive the flow of hot coolant to the radiator, resulting in a considerable increase in engine temperature.

7.     Broken Hoses

The hoses are the conduits via which coolant is transported. It can disrupt the flow of coolant if it breaks due to heat exposure. A leaking hose will not be able to convey coolant efficiently since it will enable coolant to escape. As a result, lowering the coolant quantity is inadequate. When you observe a rise in the temperature of your vehicle's engine, this problem is one of the things to investigate. When your automobile overheats due to a full coolant reservoir, the line that permits coolant to flow from the reservoir to the radiator is most likely ruptured. This will result in coolant leakage and a significant reduction in the amount of coolant in the radiator.

8.     Faulty Temperature Sensor

The temperature sensor determines the temperature of your vehicle's engine. A bad temperature sensor results in an erroneous temperature gauge reading. As a result, if this is the case with your car, the temperature gauge may issue a false warning suggesting that the engine is hot. This problem might be the cause of your car's temperature gauge fluctuating while driving.

9.     Using the Incorrect Coolant

Always use the coolant suggested for your vehicle. Using the improper coolant or a mix of water and coolant might damage your vehicle's cooling system and cause your engine to overheat. The coolant in your car corrodes over time and might eventually wear out the cooling system. This is why you must do routine car maintenance to keep your vehicle's cooling system safe.