It’s unusual that your car gets overheated while you are stuck in traffic, but cools in moving. However, before other issues arise, you better identify the causes and find out the solution.
So why car overheats at idle cools when revved? The car mainly overheats while idling because of a faulty or damaged radiator fan. If it’s not the radiator fan, it’s either damaged thermostats or coolant issues. Overall it’s an issue for the entire cooling system.
Once the cooling system falls down, this sort of problem arises. But overheating while idling is the most common. We will provide a short solution after describing the problem in this article. Hope this will help.
Why Car Overheats At Idle Cools When Revved?
Several reasons are associated with the issues of your car overheating while idling and automatically cooling off when you start driving.
Coolant Issues
Two types of coolant issues mainly arise.
- One is a low coolant level
- Another is contaminated coolant issues
[Note]: Coolant leak is another issue that ultimately causes the car to overheat. But it does not cause problems at specific times, such as when the engine is idling.
If your car is suffering overheating issues and the coolant is responsible, it will be any of those two issues.
- Low coolant level: When the coolant level is low, the system’s coolant supply is insufficient. At low engine levels, there won’t be enough pumping if there is a fluid shortage. Which is why cars get overheated when idling.
Solution
You can add additional water to make it work for an instant solution. In this case, the car will cool down temporarily and then overheat again.
So for a permanent solution, first, check the coolant level. Now you have to pour the coolant liquid and level it up. To do so, you have to open the reservoir cap and pour the coolant.
- Contaminated coolant: Contaminated coolant kills the coolant system. It creates a chemical reaction and damages it entirely, which leads to overheating issues.
Solution
If the coolant is contaminated by oil mixing, you can clean it with hot water detergent methods. But it is better to change the coolant manually. First, discard the old fluid, and then use the new one.
Damage Thermostat
The thermostat is also responsible for overheating at engine idling time. The thermostat is basically a valve. This valve is located Between the main engine and the radiator.
When the coolant gets too warm or the temperature gets too high. This valve opens up and lets the coolant get into the radiator.
The most important element of the engine’s cooling system is the radiator. It dissipates the heat before discharging the coolant to reduce engine temperature. As a result, when the thermostat malfunctions, the entire process stops working or produces subpar results.
Solution
Replacing the thermostat is the only solution if it is physically damaged. But before changing it, you can test the thermostat by checking the coolant flow and temperature.
When you are fixing the thermostat, make sure you are also changing the coolant because changing the thermostat alone won’t solve the problem.
Another important thing is the thermostat quality. Get a good thermostat instead of a cheap one because the latter will cause corrosion and harm the other components.
Radiator Fan Issues
The situation where the engine idles in traffic and causes the car to overheat most frequently occurs with the radiator fan problem. The radiator fan is basically situated somewhere between the engine and the radiator.
When the thermostat sends coolant to the radiator, the radiator fan assists in drawing the coolant inside the radiator. As a result, sending coolant inside the radiator won’t help if the fan is weak or damaged. Thus, when the engine is running and the car is stuck in traffic, it overheats.
There are many reasons why this might occur, but a few of them include motor blast, burning, overheating, and others
Solution
Most people repair fans because replacing the entire fan is unnecessary. Normally the fan’s fuse is blown or the blade damaged. If the damage is not too big, you should repair and the repair cost will be $50 to $200.
If you are a DIY person and you love to fix the radiator fan by yourself, you can do it by yourself, managing all the necessary tools and following the instructions.
FAQs
Here are a few questions and answers regarding the “car overheats at idle cools when revved” issues. If you are interested to know more, follow this section too.
Although we can’t guarantee it, the chances are good. As we previously mentioned, other factors besides coolant leaks can cause an idling engine to overheat.
Therefore, you must first identify the precise cause of the issue; if it’s a coolant leak, fixing it will end the overeating problems.
In addition to the physical harm, the issue can arise when the car is idle for a prolonged period of time while you are in heavy traffic. When the temperature outside is too high, it becomes terrible. Use the lighter flame on the gas pedal to maintain the radiator’s ability to circulate cool air.
Some specialized tools are needed to fix radiators. Give it a shot if you’re good at it and have all the necessary equipment. Better take it to the servicing if you aren’t that good.
Final Words
We think you are now fully aware of the entire situation involving the “car overheats at idle cools when revved”. This is not a common problem with your car, but three parts of it are to blame when it does. It could be the coolant, radiator, or thermostat.
The solutions are not overly complicated. Because the component has been physically damaged, replacing it is usually the best solution. However, if the damage appears to be minor, you can give it a shot. If you are unsure of the cause of the problem, it is best to consult a professional.