Adam's Auto Solution Blog

Boat engines overheat for various reasons. If your engine is running hotter than it should, then try to work out where the problem lies so you can decide what to do next. Why is your engine overheating?

Your Engine Has a Blockage

Your boat's engine has various pipes and hoses between its parts that help it run smoothly. If one of these areas gets blocked, then your engine is put under extra stress. It has to work harder to do its job. So, it might overheat.

For example, sometimes something gets stuck in a flow pipe or part. This can be a broken-off or degraded piece of a part or a different substance.

So, say one of your engine's hoses corrodes or breaks down internally. Pieces of rust or bits of the hose material could fall into the space in the hose. They block its flow abilities.

Or, your heat exchanger might get gummed up with scale. The part might lose some of its ability to create the heat levels your engine needs.

If key substances can't flow through the hose, or if a part can't work right, then your engine has to push harder to keep things moving. As it does this, it might overheat.

If this happens, you might be able to flush out the offending pipe or hose. If you have corrosion in that area, you might need to put in a new part, however, to stop the problem getting worse or happening again.

You Have a Cooling System Problem

Your engine's cooling system flows around your engine to keep it cool. If you have a problem in a part of this system, such as in the pump or impeller, then the system breaks down. Leaks in lines can also bring air into the system, which affects its ability to carry cool water around the engine at the right rates.

If you have a problem with part of your cooling system, then you might need to replace a part or a hose/pipe. This isn't always an easy DIY fix as there are many different areas that can fail here.

Your Thermostat Isn't Working Right

Sometimes, you think you have an overheating engine because your thermostat reading tells you that things are hotter than usual. This doesn't always mean that your engine is running too hot; you could just have a faulty thermostat.

However, if you can tell that your engine is hotter than usual, then your thermostat might have stopped regulating temperature as it should. In either case, your thermostat might need to be repaired or replaced.

To get help with your overheating engine, contact a marine diesel services contractor.